HHBH^HHHHHHHUBBHrai 


Ex  Likris 
\   C.  K.  OGDEN    ] 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE    IDYLL    OF   THE 
WHITE  LOTUS 


BY 

MABEL   COLLINS 


TOGETHER  WITH  AN 

EPITOMK  OF  THEOSOPHICAL  TEACHINGS 

AND 

ESOTERIC  THEOSOPHY 


BY 

WILLIAM  P.  JUDGE 


NEW  YORK 

JOHN  W.  LOVELL  COMPANY 

150  WORTH  ST. 


COTTTUOHT,  1890, 

BT 

J.    W.    LOVKLL   CO. 


Annex 


ps- 

137? 


TO 

THE  TRUE  AUTHOE,, 

THE     IN8PIREB     OF     THIS     WORK, 
IT   IS    DEDICATED. 


PREFACE. 


THE  ensuing  pages  contain  a  story  which  has  been  told 
in  all  ages  and  among  every  people.  It  is  the  tragedy 
of  the  Soul.  Attracted  by  Desire,  the  ruling  element  in 
the  lower  nature  of  Man,  it  stoops  to  sin  ;  brought  to 
itself  by  suffering,  it  turns  for  help  to  the  redeeming 
Spirit  within  ;  and  in  the  final  sacrifice  achieves  its 
apotheosis  and  sheds  a  blessing  on  mankind. 


THE 


IDYLL  OF  THE  WHITE   LOTUS. 


PROLOGUE. 

EHOLD  I  stood  alone,  one  among  many,  an 
isolated  individual  in  the  midst  of  a  united 
crowd.  And  I  was  alone,  because,  among 
all  the  men,  my  brethren,  who  knew,  I 
alone  was  the  man  who  both  knew  and  taught.  I 
taught  the  believers  at  the  gate,  and  was  driven  to  do 
this  by  the  power  that  dwelled  in  the  sanctuary.  I 
had  no  escape,  for  in  that  deep  darkness  of  the  most 
sacred  shrine,  I  beheld  the  light  of  the  inner  life,  and 
was  driven  to  reveal  it,  and  by  it  was  I  upheld  and 
made  strong.  For  indeed,  although  I  died,  it  took 
ten  priests  of  the  temple  to  accomplish  my  death,  and 
even  then  they  but  ignorantly  thought  themselves 
powerful. 


BOOK  I. 


CHAPTER  I. 

IRE  my  beard  had  become  a  soft  down  upon 
my  chin,  I  entered  the  gates  of  the  temple 
to  begin  my  noviciate  in  the  order  of  the 
priesthood. 

My  parents  were  shepherds  outside  the  city.  I  had 
never  but  once  entered  within  the  city  walls  until  the 
day  my  mother  took  me  to  the  gate  of  the  temple.  It 
was  a  feast  day  in  the  city,  and  my  mother,  a  frugal 
and  industrious  woman,  thus  fulfilled  two  purposes  by 
her  journey.  She  took  me  to  my  destination,  and  then 
she  departed  to  enjoy  a  brief  holiday  amid  the  sights 
and  scenes  of  the  city. 

I  was  enthralled  by  the  crowds  and  noises  of  the 
streets.  I  think  my  nature  was  always  one  that  strove 
to  yield  itself  to  the  great  whole  of  which  it  was  such 
a  small  part — and  by  yielding  itself,  to  draw  back  into 
it  the  sustenance  of  life. 

But  out  of  the  bustling  throng  we  soon  turned.  We 
entered  upon  a  broad,  green  plain,  upon  the  further 


10  THE  IDYLL  OF 

side  of  which  ran  our  sacred,  beloved  river.  How 
plainly  I  behold  that  scene  still !  On  the  banks  of 
the  water  I  saw  the  sculptured  roofs  and  glittering 
ornaments  of  the  temple  and  its  surrounding  buildings 
shining  in  the  clear  morning  air.  I  had  no  fear,  for  I 
had  no  definite  expectations.  But  I  wondered  much 
whether  life  within  those  gates  was  as  beautiful  a  thing 
as  it  seemed  to  me  it  must  be. 

At  the  gate  stood  a  black-robed  novice  speaking  to  a 
woman  from  the  city,  who  carried  flasks  of  water  which 
she  urgently  prayed  one  of  the  priests  to  bless.  She 
would  then  have  for  sale  a  precious  burden — a  thing 
paid  dearly  for  by  the  superstitious  populace. 

I  peeped  through  the  gate  as  we  stood  waiting  for 
our  turn  of  speech,  and  beheld  a  sight  that  struck  me 
with  awe.  That  awe  lasted  a  long  time,  even  when 
I  had  entered  into  almost  hourly  familiarity  with  the 
figure  which  so  impressed  me. 

It  was  one  of  the  white-robed  priests,  pacing  slowly 
down  the  broad  avenue  towards  the  gate.  I  had  never 
seen  one  of  those  white-robed  priests  before,  save  on 
the  single  occasion  when  I  had  before  visited  the  city. 
I  then  had  seen  several  upon  the  sacred  boat  in  the 
midst  of  a  river  procession. 

But  now  this  figure  was  near  me,  approaching  me — 
I  held  my  breath. 

The  air  was  indeed  very  still,  but  those  stately  white 
garments  looked,  as  the  priest  moved  beneath  the 
shadow  of  the  avenue,  as  if  no  earthly  breeze  could 
stir  them.  His  step  had  the  same  equable  character. 
He  moved,  but  it  seemed  scarcely  as  though  he  walked 
in  the  fashion  that  other  and  impetuous  mortals  walk. 
His  eyes  were  bent  on  the  ground,  so  that  I  could  not 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  11 

see  them ;  and,  indeed,  I  dreaded  the  raising  of  those 
drooping  lids.  His  complexion  was  fair,  and  his  hair 
of  a  dull  gold  color.  His  beard  was  long  and  full, 
but  it  had  the  same  strangely  immovable,  almost 
carven  look,  to  my  fancy.  I  could  not  imagine  it 
blown  aside.  It  seemed  as  though  cut  in  gold,  and 
made  firm  for  eternity.  The  whole  man  impressed  me 
thus — as  a  being  altogether  removed  from  the  ordinary 
life  of  man. 

The  novice  looked  around,  his  notice  attracted  prob 
ably  by  my  intense  gaze,  for  no  sound  reached  my  ears 
from  the  priest's  footfall. 

"  Ah !"  he  said,  "here  is  the  holy  priest  Agmahd,  I 
will  ask  him." 

Closing  the  gate  behind  him,  he   drew  back,  and  we 
saw   him  speak   to    the    priest,  who   bowed   his  head 
slightly.     The  man    returned,  and  taking    the    water  . 
flasks  from  the  woman,  carried  them  to  the  priest,  who 
laid  his  hand  for  a  second  upon  them. 

She  took  them  again  with  profuse  thanks,  and  then 
we  were  asked  our  business. 

I  was  soon  left  alone  with  the  black-robed  novice. 
I  was  not  sorry,  though  considerably  awed.  I  had 
never  cared  much  for  my  old  task  of  tending  my 
father's  sheep,  and  of  course  I  was  already  filled  with 
the  idea  that  I  was  about  to  become  something  dif 
ferent  from  the  common  herd  of  men.  This  idea  will 
carry  poor  human  nature  through  severer  trials  even 
than  that  of  leaving  one's  home  forever  and  entering 
finally  upon  a  new  and  untried  course  of  life. 

The  gate  swung  to  behind  me,  and  the  black-robed 
man  locked  it  with  a  great  key  that  hung  to  his  waist. 
But  the  action  gave  me  no  sense  of  imprisonment, — 


12  THE  IDYLL  OF 

only  a  consciousness  of  seclusion  and  separateness. 
Who  could  associate  imprisonment  with  a  scene  such 
as  that  which  lay  before  me  ? 

The  temple  doors  were  facing  the  gate,  at  the  other 
end  of  a  broad  and  beautiful  avenue.  It  was  not  a 
natural  avenue  formed  by  trees  planted  in  the  ground, 
and  luxuriating  in  a  growth  of  their  own  choosing. 
It  was  formed  by  great  tubs  of  stone,  in  which  were 
planted  shrubs  of  enormous  size,  but  evidently  trimmed 
and  guided  most  carefully  into  the  strange  shapes  they 
formed.  Between  each  shrub  was  a  square  block  of 
stone,  upon  which  was  a  carven  figure.  Those  figures 
nearest  the  gate  I  saw  to  be  sphinxes  and  great  ani 
mals  with  human  heads  ;  but  afterwards  I  did  not  dare 
raise  my  eyes  to  gaze  curiously  upon  them ;  for  I  saw 
again  approaching  us,  in  the  course  of  his  regular  walk 
to  and  fro,  the  golden-bearded  priest  Agmahd. 

Walking  on  by  the  side  of  my  guide,  I  kept  my  eyes 
upon  the  ground.  When  he  paused  I  paused,  and 
found  that  my  eyes  fell  upon  the  hem  of  the  priest's 
white  robe.  That  hem  was  delicately  embroidered 
with  golden  characters :  it  was  enough  to  absorb  my 
attention  and  fill  me  with  wonder  for  a  while. 

"A  new  novice?"  I  heard  a  very  quiet  and  sweet 
voice  say.  "  Well,  take  him  into  the  school ;  he  is 
but  a  youth  yet.  Look  up,  boy  ;  do  not  fear." 

I  looked  up,  thus  encouraged,  and  encountered  the 
gaze  of  the  priest.  His  eyes,  I  saw,  even  then  in  my 
embarrassment,  were  of  changing  color — blue  and 
gray.  But,  soft-hued  though  they  were,  they  did 
not  give  me  the  encouragement  which  I  had  heard  in 
his  voice.  They  were  calm  indeed :  full  of  knowledge  : 
but  they  made  me  tremble. 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  13 

He  dismissed  us  with  a  movement  of  his  hand,  and 
pursued  his  even  walk  down  the  grand  avenue ;  while 
I,  more  disposed  to  tremble  than  I  had  been  before, 
followed  silently  my  silent  guide.  We  entered  the 
great  central  doorway  of  the  temple,  the  sides  of 
which  were  formed  of  immense  blocks  of  uncut  stone. 
I  suppose  a  fit  of  something  like  fear  must  have  come 
upon  me,  after  the  inquisition  of  the  holy  priest's 
eyes ;  for  I  regarded  these  blocks  of  stone  with  a 
vague  sense  of  terror. 

Within  I  saw  that,  from  the  central  doorway,  a 
passage  proceeded  in  a  long  direct  line  with  the  avenue 
through  the  building.  But  that  was  not  our  way. 
We  turned  aside  and  entered  upon  a  network  of 
smaller  corridors,  and  passed  through  some  small  bare 
rooms  upon  our  way. 

We  entered  at  last  a  large  and  beautiful  room.  I 
say  beautiful,  though  it  was  entirely  bare  and  unfur 
nished,  save  for  a  table  at  one  corner.  But  its  pro 
portions  were  so  grand,  and  its  structure  so  elegant, 
that  even  my  eye,  unaccustomed  to  discern  architectural 
beauties,  was  strangely  impressed  with  a  sense  of  satis 
faction. 

At  the  table  in  the  corner  sat  two  other  youths, 
copying  or  drawing,  I  could  not  quite  see  what.  At 
all  events  I  saw  they  were  very  busy,  and  I  wondered 
that  they  scarcely  raised  their  heads  to  observe  our 
entrance.  But,  advancing,  I  perceived  that,  behind 
one  of  the  great  stone  projections  of  the  wall,  there 
sat  an  aged  white-robed  priest,  looking  at  a  book 
which  lay  upon  his  knee. 

He  did  not  notice  us  until  my  guide  stood  deferen 
tially  bowing  right  in  front  of  him. 


14  THE  IDYLL  OF 

"  A  new  pupil  ?  "  he  said,  and  looked  keenly  ct  me 
out  of  his  dim,  bleared-looking  eyes.  "  What  can  he 
do?" 

"  Not  much,  I  fancy,"  said  my  guids,  speaking  of  me 
in  an  easy  tone  of  contempt.  "•  He  has  been  but  a 
shepherd  lad." 

"A  shepherd  lad,"  echoed  the  old  priest;  "he  will 
be  no  use  here,  then.  He  had  best  work  in  the 
garden.  Have  you  ever  learned  to  draw  or  copy 
writing?"  he  asked,  turning  upon  me. 

I  had  been  taught  these  things  as  far  as  might  be, 
but  such  accomplishments  were  rare,  except  in  the 
priestly  schools  and  among  the  small  cultivated  classes 
outside  the  priesthood. 

The  old  priest  looked  at  my  hands,  and  turned  back 
to  his  book. 

"  He  must  learn  some  time,"  he  said ;  "  but  I  am  too 
full  of  work  now  to  teach  him.  I  want  more  to  help 
me  in  my  work  ;  but  with  these  sacred  writings  that 
have  to  be  closed  now,  I  cannot  stay  to  instruct  the 
ignorant.  Take  him  to  the  garden,  for  a  while  at  least, 
and  I  will  see  about  him  by-and-by." 

My  guide  turned  away  and  walked  out  of  the  room. 
With  a  last  look  around  at  its  beautiful  appearance,  I 
followed  him. 

I  followed  him  down  a  long,  long  passage,  which 
was  cool  and  refreshing  in  its  darkness.  At  the  end 
was  a  gate  instead  of  a  door,  and  here  my  guide  rang  a 
loud  bell, 

We  waited  in  silence  after  the  bell  had  rung.  No 
one  came,  and  presently  my  guide  rang  the  bell  again. 
But  I  was  in  no  hurry.  With  my  face  pressed  against 
the  bars  of  the  gate,  I  looked  forth  into  a  world  so 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  15 

magical,  that  I  thought  to  myself,  "  It  will  be  no  ill  to 
me  if  the  blear-eyed  priest  does  not  want  to  take  me 
from  the  garden  yet  a  while  !  " 

It  had  been  a  dusty  hot  walk  from  our  home  to  the 
city,  and  there  the  paved  streets  had  seemed  to  my 
country-bred  feet  infinitely  wearisome.  Within  the 
gates  oi  the  temple  I  had  as  yet  only  passed  down  the 
grand  avenue,  where  everything  filled  me  so  deeply 
with  awe,  that  I  scarce  dared  look  upon  it.  But  here 
\vas  a  world  of  delicate  and  refreshing  glory.  Never 
had  I  seen  a  garden  like  this.  There  was  greenness, 
deep  greenness  ;  there  was  a  sound  of  water,  the  mur 
muring  of  gentle  water  under  control,  ready  to  do  ser 
vice  for  man,  and  refresh  in  the  midst  of  the  burning 
heat  which  called  the  magnificence  of  color  and  grand 
development  of  form  into  the  garden. 

A  third  time  the  bell  rang — and  then  I  saw,  coming 
from  among  the  great  green  leaves,  a  black-robed  figure. 
How  strangely  out  of  place  did  the  black  dress  look 
here  !  and  I  thought  with  consternation  that  I  should 
also  be  clothed  in  those  garments  before  long,  and 
should  wander  among  the  voluptuous  beauties  of  this 
magical  place  like  a  strayed  creature  from  a  sphere  of 
darkness. 

The  figure  approached,  brushing,  with  its  coarse 
robe,  the  delicate  foliage.  I  gazed  with  a  sudden 
awakening  of  interest  upon  the  face  of  the  man  who 
drew  near,  and  into  whose  charge  I  supposed  I  was  to 
be  committed.  And  well  I  might ;  for  it  was  a  face  to 
awake  interest  in  any  human  breast. 


CHAPTER  II. 

HAT  is  it  ?  "  asked  the  man  querulously,  as 
he  looked  at  us  through  the  gate.  "  I 
sent  fruit  and  to  spare  into  the  kitchen 
this  morning.  And  I  can  give  you  no 
more  flowers  to-day  ;  all  I  have  to  pluck  will  be  wanted 
for  the  procession  to-morrow." 

"  I  am  not  wanting  your  fruit  or  your  flowers,"  said 
my  guide,  who  seemed  fond  of  adopting  a  lofty  tone. 
"  I  have  brought  you  a  new  pupil,  that's  all." 

He  unlocked  the  gate,  motioned  me  to  pass  through, 
and  shutting  it  behind  me,  walked  away  down  the  long 
corridor  (which  now,  looking  back  from  the  garden, 
seemed  so  dark)  without  another  word. 

"  A  new  pupil  for  me  !  And  what  am  I  teach  you, 
child  of  the  country  ?  " 

I  gazed  upon  the  strange  man  in  silence.  How 
could  I  tell  what  he  was  to  teach  me  ? 

"  Is  it  the  mysteries  of  the  growth  of  the  plants  you 
are  to  learn  ? — or  the  mysteries  of  the  growth  of  sin 
and  deceit?  Nay,  child,  look  not  so  upon  me,  but 
ponder  my  words  and  you  will  by-and-by  understand 
them.  Now,  come  with  me,  and  fear  not." 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  17 

He  took  my  haiid  and  led  me  under  the  tall-leaved 
plants  towards  the  sound  of  water.  How  exquisite  it 
seemed  to  my  ears,  that  soft,  bright,  musical  rhythm ! 

"  Here  is  the  home  of  our  Lady  the  Lotus, "said  the 
man.  "  Sit  clown  here  and  look  upon  her  beauty  while 
I  work  ;  for  I  have  much  to  do  that  you  cannot  help 
me  in." 

Nothing  loth,  indeed,  was  I  to  sink  upon  the  green 
grass  and  only  look — look  in  amazement — in  wonder — 
in  awe ! 

That  water — that  delicate-voiced  water — lived  only 
to  feed  the  queen  of  flo\Arers.  I  said  to  myself,  thou 
art  indeed  the  Queen  of  all  flowers  imaginable, 

THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 

And  as  I  gazed  dreamingly  in  my  youthful  enthu 
siasm  upon  this  white  bloom  which  seemed  to  me,  with 
its  soft,  gold-dusted  heart,  the  very  emblem  of  pure, 
romantic  love — as  I  gazed  the  flower  seemed  to  change 
in  shape — to  expand — to  rise  towards  me.  And  lo, 
drinking  at  the  stream  of  sweet  sounding  water,  stoop 
ing  to  take  its  refreshing  drops  upon  her  lips,  I  beheld 
a  woman  of  fair  skin  with  hair  like  the  dust  of  gold. 
Amazed,  I  looked  and  strove  to  move  towards  her,  but 
ere  I  could  make  any  effort  my  whole  consciousness 
left  me,  and,  I  suppose,  I  must  have  swooned  away. 
For,  indeed,  the  next  that  I  can  recall  I  lay  upon  the 
grass,  with  the  sense  of  cool  water  upon  my  face,  and 
opening  my  eyes,  I  beheld  the  black-robed,  strange- 
faced  gardener  leaning  over  me. 

"  Was  the  heat  too  much  for  thee  ? "  he  asked,  his 
brow  knit  in  perplexity.  "  Thou  lookest  a  strong  lad 

2 


18  THE  IDYLL  OF 

to  faint  for  the  heat,  and  that,  moreover,  in  a  cool  place 
like  this." 

"  Where  is  she  ?  "  was  my  only  reply,  as  I  attempted 
to  rise  upon  my  elbow  and  look  towards  the  lily  bed. 

"What !  "  cried  the  man,  his  whole  countenance  chang 
ing,  and  assuming  a  look  of  sweetness  that  I  should 
never  have  supposed  could  appear  upon  a  face  so  natu 
rally  unbeautiful.  "  Hast  thou  seen  her  ?  But  no — 
I  am  hasty  in  supposing  it.  What  have  you  seen,  boy  ? 
— do  not  hesitate  to  tell  me." 

The  gentleness  of  his  expression  helped  my  scattered 
and  startled  senses  to  collect  themselves.  I  told  him 
what  I  had  seen,  and,  as  I  spoke,  I  looked  towards  the 
lily  bed,  hoping,  indeed,  that  the  fair  woman  might 
again  stoop  to  sLake  her  thirst  at  the  streamlet. 

The  manner  of  my  strange  teacher  gradually  changed 
as  I  spoke  to  him.  When  I  ceased  describing  the 
beautiful  woman,  with  the  enthusiasm  of  a  boy  who 
has  never  seen  any  but  his  own  dusky-skinned  race,  he 
fell  upon  his  knees  beside  me. 

"  Thou  hast  seen  her !  "  he  said  in  a  voice  of  deep 
excitement.  "All  hail!  for  thou  art  destined  to  be 
a  teacher  among  us — a  help  to  the  people — thou  art 
a  seer  ! " 

Bewildered  by  his  words,  I  only  looked  upon  him  in 
silence.  After  a  moment  I  grew  terrified,  for  I  began 
to  think  he  must  be  mad.  I  looked  around,  wondering 
whether  I  could  return  to  the  temple  and  escape  from 
him.  But  even  as  I  debated  within  myself  whether  to 
venture  upon  this,  he  rose  and  turned  upon  me  with 
the  singular  sweet  smile,  which  appeared  to  cover  and 
hide  the  ugliness  of  his  strongly  marked  features. 

"  Come  with  me,"  he  said  ;  and  I  rose  and  followed 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  19 

him.  We  passed  through  the  garden,  which  was  so  full 
of  attractions  for  my  wandering  eyes  that  I  loitered  on 
my  path  behind  him.  Ah,  such  sweet  flowers  ;  such 
rich  purples  and  deep-hearted  crimson.  Difficult  I 
found  it  not  to  pause  and  inhale  the  sweetness  of  each 
fair-faced  blossom,  though  still  they  seemed  to  me,  in 
my  so  recent  adoration  of  its  beauty,  to  but  reflect  the 
supreme  exquisiteness  of  the  white  lotus  flower. 

We  went  towards  a  gate  in  the  temple  :  a  different 
one  from  that  by  which  I  had  entered  the  garden.  As 
we  approached  it,  there  issued  forth  two  priests  clad 
in  the  same  white  linen  robes  as  I  had  seen  worn  by 
the  golden-bearded  priest  Agmahd.  These  men  were 
dark  ;  and  though  they  moved  with  a  similar  stateli- 
ness  and  equilibrium,  as  though  indeed  they  were  the 
most  firmly  rooted  growth  of  the  earth,  yet  to  my  eyes 
they  lacked  a  something  which  the  priest  Agmahd 
possessed — a  certain  perfection  of  calm  and  assuredness. 
They  were  younger  than  lie,  I  soon  saw  ;  perhaps 
therein  lay  the  difference.  My  dark-visaged  teacher 
drew  them  aside,  leaving  me  to  stand  in  the  pleasant 
shadow  of  the  deep-arched  doorway.  He  spoke  to  them 
excitedly,  though  evidently  with  reverence  ;  while  they, 
listening  with  quick  interest,  glanced  ever  and  anon 
towards  me. 

Presently  they  came  to  me,  and  the  black-robed  man 
turned  and  moved  over  the  grass,  as  though  returning 
on  the  way  we  had  come  together.  The  white-clad 
priests,  advancing  under  the  doorway,  spoke  together  in 
low  whispers.  When  they  reached  me  they  motioned 
me  to  follow  them,  and  I  did  so  :  passing  through  cool, 
high-roofed  corridors  and  gazing  idly,  as  was  always  a 
foolish  habit  of  mine,  upon  everything  I  passed  ;  while 


20  THE  IDYLL  OF 

they,  still  whispering  together  as  they  preceded  me, 
would  now  and  then  cast  looks  upon  me,  the  meaning 
of  which  I  could  not  understand. 

Presently  they  turned  out  of  the  corridors,  and 
entered  into  a  large  room  similar  to  the  one  I  had 
already  seen,  where  the  old  priest  was  instructing  his 
copyists.  This  was  divided  by  an  embroidered  cur 
tain  which  fell  in  majestic  folds  from  the  lofty  roof  to 
the  ground.  I  always  loved  beautiful  things,  and  I 
noticed  how,  as  it  touched  the  ground,  it  stood  firm 
with  the  stiffness  of  the  rich  gold  work  upon  it. 

One  of  the  priests  advanced,  and  drawing  back  one 
side  of  the  curtain  a  little,  I  heard  him  say — 

"  My  lord,  may  I  enter?  " 

And  now  I  began  to  tremble  a  little  again.  They 
had  not  looked  unkindly  upon  me,  yet  how  could  I 
tell  what  ordeal  awaited  me  ?  I  looked  in  fear  upon 
the  beautiful  curtain,  and  wondered,  in  some  natural 
fear,  who  sat  behind  it. 

I  had  not  overlong  in  which  to  tremble  and  be  afraid 
of  I  knew  not  what.  Ere  long  the  priest  who  had 
entered  returned,  and  accompanying  him  I  saw  was 
the  golden-bearded  priest  Agmahd. 

He  did  not  speak  to  me,  but  said  to  the  others — 

"  Wait  thou  here  with  him,  while  I  go  to  my  brother 
Kamen  Baka." 

And  saying  this,  he  left  us  alone  again  in  the  great 
stone  room. 

My  fears  returned  trebly  upon  me.  Had  but  the 
stately  priest  given  me  a  glance  which  held  kindness  in 
it,  I  had  not  so  yielded  to  them,  but  now  I  was  again 
plunged  in  vague  terrors  of  what  next  should  come 
upon  me  ;  and  I  was  weakened  also  by  the  swoon 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  21 

which  had  but  so  recently  prostrated  me.  Trembling, 
I  sank  upon  a  stone  bench,  which  ran  around  the  wall ; 
while  the  two  dark-haired  priests  talked  together. 

I  think  the  suspense  would  soon  have  brought  an 
other  lapse  into  unconciousness  upon  me,  but  suddenly 
I  was  again  awakened  to  the  doubts  and  possibilities 
of  my  position  by  the  entrance  of  Agmahd,  accom 
panied  by  another  priest  of  most  noble  appearance.  He 
was  fair-skinned  and  fair-haired,  though  not  so  fair  in 
either  as  Agmahd  ;  he  shared  with  him  the  stately 
immobility  of  appearance  which  made  Agmahd  an 
object  of  the  deepest  awe  to  me  ;  and  in  his  dark  eyes 
there  was  a  benevolence  which  I  had  not  yet  seen  in 
any  of  the  priests'  countenances.  I  felt  less  fearful  as 
I  looked  upon  him. 

"  This  is  he,"  said  Agmahd,  in  his  musically  cold 
voice. 

Why,  I  wondered,  was  I  thus  spoken  of  ?  I  was  but 
a  new  novice,  and  had  already  been  handed  over  to  my 
teacher. 

"  Brethren,"  cried  Kamen  Baka,  "  is  it  not  best  that 
he  should  be  clothed  in  the  white  garment  of  the  seer  ? 
Take  him  to  the  baths  ;  let  him  bathe  and  be  anointed. 
Then  will  I  and  Agmahd  my  brother  put  upon  him  the 
white  robe.  We  will  then  leave  him  to  repose,  while 
we  report  to  the  company  of  the  high  priests.  Bring 
him  back  here  when  he  has  bathed." 

The  two  younger  priests  led  me  from  the  room.  I 
began  to  see  that  they  belonged  to  an  inferior  order  in 
the  priesthood,  and,  looking  on  them  now,  I  saw  that 
their  white  robes  had  not  the  beautiful  golden  embroid 
ery  upon  them,  but  were  marked  with  black  lines  and 
stitchings  around  the  edges. 


22  THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 

How  delicious,  after  all  my  weariness,  was  the  scented 
bath  which  they  led  me  to  !  It  soothed  and  eased  my 
very  spirit.  When  I  left  it  I  was  rubbed  with  a  soft 
and  sweet  oil,  and  then  they  wrapped  me  in  a  linen 
sheet,  and  brought  me  refreshment — fruits,  oiled  cakes, 
and  a  fragrant  draught  that  seemed  to  both  strengthen 
and  stimulate  me.  Then  I  was  led  forth  again  to  the 
chamber  in  which  the  two  priests  awaited  me. 

They  were  there,  with  another  priest  of  the  inferior 
order,  who  held  in  his  hands  a  fine  linen  garment  of 
pure  white.  The  two  priests  took  this,  and,  as  the 
others  drew  away  the  sheet  from  my  form,  they  to 
gether  put  it  upon  me.  And  when  they  had  done 
so,  they  joined  their  hands  upon  my  head,  while  the 
other  priests  knelt  down  where  they  stood. 

I  knew  not  what  all  this  meant — I  was  again  becoming 
alarmed.  But  the  bodily  refreshment  had  done  much 
to  soothe  my  soul,  and  when,  without  further  cere 
mony,  they  sent  me  away  again  with  the  two  inferior 
priests,  with  whom  I  felt  a  little  familiarized,  my 
spirits  arose,  and  my  step  became  light. 

They  took  me  to  a  small  room,  in  which  was  a  long, 
low  divan,  covered  with  a  linen  sheet.  There  was 
nothing  else  in  the  room,  and  indeed  I  felt  as  if  my 
eyes  and  brain  might  well  remain  without  interest  for 
a  while ;  for  how  much  had  I  not  seen  since  I  entered 
the  temple  in  the  morning  !  How  long  it  seemed  since 
I  had  let  go  my  mother's  hand  at  the  gate ! 

"  Rest  in  peace,"  said  one  of  the  priests.  "  Take 
your  fill  of  sleep,  for  you  will  be  awakened  in  the  first 
cool  hours  of  the  night! " 

And  so  they  left  me. 


CHAPTER  III. 


ness 


LAY  upon  my  couch,  which  was  soft  enough 
to  make  it  very  welcome  to  my  weary 
limbs,  and  before  long  I  was  buried  in 
'profound  sleep,  notwithstanding  the  strange- 
my  surroundings.  The  health  and  faith 
of  youth  enabled  me  to  forget  all  the  newness  of  my 
position  in  the  temporary  luxury  of  complete  rest.  Not 
long  afterwards  I  have  entered  that  cell  to  gaze  upon 
that  couch,  and  marvel  where  the  peace  of  mind  hud 
flown  that  had  been  mine  in  my  ignorant  boyhood. 

When  I  awoke  it  was  quite  dark,  and  I  started  sud 
denly  to  a  sitting  posture,  vividly  conscious  of  a  human 
presence  in  the  room.  My  wits  were  scattered  by  my 
sudden  awakening.  I  thought  myself  to  be  at  home, 
and  that  it  was  my  mother  who  was  silently  watching 
beside  me. 

"  Mother,"  I  cried  out,  "  what  is  the  matter  ?  Why 
are  you  here  ?  Are  you  ill  ?  Are  the  sheep  astray  ?  " 
For  a  moment  there  was  no  answer,  and  my  heart 
began  to  beat  rapidly  as  I  realized  in  the  midst  of  the 
blank  darkness  that  I  was  not  at  home — that  I  was 
indeed  in  a  new  place — that  I  knew  not  who  it  might 


24  THE  IDYLL  OF 

be  that  thus  silently  watched  in  my  room.  For  the 
first  time  I  longed  for  my  little  homely  chamber — for 
the  sound  of  my  mother's  voice.  And,  though  I  think 
I  was  a  brave  lad,  and  one  not  given  to  womanish 
weakness,  I  lay  down  again  and  wept  aloud. 

"Bring  lights,"  said  a  quiet  voice;  "he  is  awake." 
I  heard  sounds,  and  then  a  strong  fragrance  crept  to 
my  nostrils.  Immediately  afterwards  two  young  nov 
ices  entered  at  the  door,  bearing  silver  lamps,  which 
threw  a  sudden  and  vivid  light  into  the  room.  Then 
I  saw — and  the  sight  so  startled  me  that  I  ceased  to 
weep  and  forgot  my  home-sickness — I  saw  that  my 
room  was  quite  full  of  white-robed  priests,  all  standing 
motionless.  No  wonder,  indeed,  that  I  had  been  over 
powered  by  the  sense  of  a  human  presence  in  my  room. 
I  was  surrounded  by  a  silent  and  statuesque  crowd  of 
men,  whose  eyes  were  bent  upon  the  ground,  whose 
hands  were  crossed  upon  their  breasts.  I  sank  back 
again  upon  my  couch  and  covered  my  face  ;  the  lights, 
the  crowd  of  faces,  overpowered  me;  and  I  felt  strongly 
disposed,  when  I  had  recovered  from  my  astonishment, 
to  begin  weeping  again  from  sheer  bewilderment  of 
ideas.  The  fragrance  grew  stronger  and  more  intense, 
the  room  seemed  filled  with  burning  incense  ;  and, 
opening  my  eyes,  I  saw  that  a  young  priest  on  eacli 
side  of  me  held  the  vases  which  contained  it.  The 
room,  as  I  have  said,  was  full  of  priests ;  but  there  was 
an  inner  circle  close  about  my  couch.  Upon  the  faces 
of  these  men  I  gazed  with  awe.  Among  them  were 
Agmahd  and  Kamen,  and  the  others  shared  with  them 
the  strange  immobility  of  expression  which  had  affected 
me  so  deeply.  I  glanced  from  face  to  face  and  covered 
my  eyes  again,  trembling.  I  felt  as  though  walled  in 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  25 

by;  an  impenetrable  barrier ;  I  was  imprisoned,  with 
these  men  around  me,  by  something  infinitely  more 
impassable  than  stone  walls.  The  silence  was  broken 
at  last.  Agmahd  spoke. 

"Arise,  child,"  he  said,  "and  come  with  us."  I  arose 
obediently,  though  truly  I  would  rather  have  remained 
alone  in  my  dark  chamber  than  have  accompanied  this 
strange  and  silent  crowd.  But  I  had  no  choice  save 
silent  compliance  when  I  encountered  the  cold,  im 
penetrable  blue  eyes  which  Agmahd  turned  upon  me. 
I  arose,  and  found  that  when  I  moved  I  was  enclosed 
by  the  same  inner  circle.  Before,  behind,  and  at  the 
side  of  me  they  walked,  the  others  moving  in  orderly 
fashion  outside  the  centre.  We  passed  down  a  long 
corridor  until  we  reached  the  great  entrance  door  of 
the  temple.  It  stood  open,  and  I  felt  refreshed  as  by 
the  face  of  an  old  friend  by  the  glimpse  I  got  of  the 
starlit  dome  without.  But  the  glimpse  was  brief.  We 
halted  just  inside  the  great  doors,  and  some  of  the 
priests  closed  and  barred  them ;  we  then  turned  towards 
the  great  central  corridor  which  I  had  observed  on  my 
first  entrance.  I  noticed  now  that,  though  so  spacious 
and  beautiful,  no  doors  opened  into  it,  save  one  deep- 
arched  one  right  at  the  end,  facing  the  great  temple 
avenue.  I  wondered  idly  where  this  solitary  door  would 
lead. 

They  brought  a  little  chair,  and  placed  it  in  the  midst 
of  the  corridor.  On  this  I  was  told  to  sit,  facing  the 
door  at  the  far  end.  I  did  so,  silent  and  alarmed; — 
what  meant  this  strange  thing?  Why  was  I  to  sit  thus, 
with  the  high  priests  standing  around  me?  What 
ordeal  was  before  me?  But  I  resolved  to  be  brave,  to 
have  no  fear.  Was  not  I  already  clothed  in  a  pure 


26  THE  IDYLL  OF 

white  linen  garment  ?  Truly  it  was  not  embroidered 
in  gold ;  but  yet  it  was  not  stitched  with  black,  like 
that  of  the  younger  priests.  It  was  pure  white ;  and 
priding  myself  that  this  must  mean  some  sort  of  dis 
tinction,  I  tried  to  sustain  my  failing  courage  by  this 
idea. 

The  incense  grew  so  strong  that  it  made  my  head 
confused.  I  was  unaccustomed  to  the  scents  which 
the  priests  so  lavishly  scattered. 

Suddenly — without  word  or  any  sign  of  preparation 
—the  lights  were  extinguished,  and  I  found  myself 
once  more  in  the  dark,  surrounded  by  a  strange  and 
silent  crowd. 

I  tried  to  collect  myself  and  realize  where  I  was.  I 
remembered  that  the  mass  of  the  crowd  was  behind  me, 
that  in  front  of  me  the  priests  had  parted,  so  that, 
though  the  inner  circle  still  separated  me  from  the 
others,  I  was  looking,  when  the  lights  were  put  out, 
straight  down  the  corridor  towards  the  deep-arched 
doorway. 

I  was  alarmed  and  miserable.  I  curled  myself  to 
gether  on  my  seat,  intending  to  be  brave,  if  need  be, 
but  in  the  meantime  to  remain  as  silent  and  unobtrusive 
as  possible.  Much  did  I  dread  the  calm  faces  of  those 
high  priests  whom  I  knew  to  be  standing  immovably 
beside  me.  The  absolute  silence  of  the  crowd  behind 
iilled  me  with  terror  and  awe.  I  was  at  some  moments 
so  full  of  alarm  that  I  wondered  whether,  if  I  arose  and 
moved  straight  down  the  corridor,  I  could  escape  from 
between  the  priests  unnoticed.  But  I  dared  not  try  it; 
and  indeed  the  incense  combined  with  the  effects  of  the 
subtle  drink  and  the  quiet  were  producing  an  unaccus 
tomed  drowsiness. 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  27 

My  eyes  were  half  closed,  and  I  think  I  might  soon 
have  fallen  asleep,  but  my  curiosity  was  suddenly 
aroused  by  perceiving  that  a  line  of  light  showed 
around  the  edges  of  the  doorway  at  the  far  end  of  the 
corridor.  I  opened  my  eyes  wide  to  look,  and  soon  saw 
that  slowly,  very  slowly,  the  door  was  being  opened. 
At  last  it  stood  half-way  open,  and  a  dim  suffused  kind 
of  light  came  forth  from  it.  But  at  our  end  of  the  cor 
ridor  the  darkness  remained  total  and  unrelieved,  and 
I  heard  no  sound  or  sign  of  life,  save  a  low,  subdued 
breathing  from  the  men  who  surrounded  me. 

I  closed  my  eyes  after  a  few  moments ;  for  I  was 
gazing  so  intently  out  of  the  darkness  that  my  eyes 
grew  wearied.  When  I  opened  them  again  I  saw  that 
there  stood  a  figure  just  outside  the  doorway.  Its  out 
line  was  distinct,  but  the  form  and  face  were  dim,  by 
reason  of  the  light  being  behind ;  yet,  unreasonable  as 
it  was,  I  was  filled  with  a  sudden  horror — my  flesh 
creeped,  and  I  had  to  use  a  kind  of  physical  repressive 
force  in  order  to  prevent  myself  from  screaming  aloud. 
This  intolerable  sense  of  fear  momently  increased ;  for 
the  figure  advanced  towards  me,  slowly,  and  with  a 
kind  of  gliding  motion  that  was  unearthly.  I  saw  now, 
as  it  neared,  that  it  was  robed  in  some  kind  of  dark 
garment,  which  almost  entirely  veiled  form  and  face. 
But  I  could  not  see  very  clearly,  for  the  light  from  the 
doorway  only  faintly  reached  out  from  it.  But  my 
agony  of  fear  was  suddenly  augmented  by  observing 
that,  when  the  gliding  figure  nearly  approached  me,  it 
kindled  some  kind  of  light  which  it  held,  and  which 
illumined  its  dim  drapery.  But  this  light  made  noth 
ing  else  visible.  By  a  gigantic  effort  I  removed  my 
fascinated  gaze  from  the  mysterious  figure,  and  turned 


28  THE  IDYLL  OF 

my  head,  hoping  to  see  the  forms  of  the  priests  beside 
me.  But  their  forms  were  not  to  be  seen — all  was  a 
total  blank  of  darkness.  This  released  the  spell  of  hor 
ror  that  was  on  me,  and  I  cried  out — a  cry  of  agony 
and  fear — and  bowed  my  head  in  my  hands. 

The  voice  of  Agmahd  fell  upon  my  ear. 

"  Fear  not,  my  child,"  he  said  in  his  melodious,  un 
disturbed  accents. 

I  made  an  effort  to  control  myself,  helped  by  this 
sound  which  savored  at  least  of  something  less  un 
familiar  and  terrible  than  the  veiled  figure  which  stood 
before  me.  It  was  there — not  close,  but  close  enough 
to  fill  my  soul  with  a  kind  of  unearthly  terror. 

"  Speak,  child,"  said  again  the  voice  of  Agmahd,  "and 
tell  us  what  alarms  thee  ?  " 

I  dared  not  disobey,  though  my  tongue  clove  to  the 
roof  of  my  mouth;  and,  indeed,  a  new  surprise  en 
abled  me  to  speak  more  easily  than  otherwise  I  could 
have  done. 

"  "What,"  I  exclaimed,  "  do  you  not  see  the  light 
from  the  doorway,  and  the  veiled  figure  ?  Oh !  send 
it  away  ;  it  frightens  me  !  " 

A  low,  subdued  murmur  seemed  to  come  from  all 
the  crowd  at  once.  Evidently  my  words  excited  them. 
Then  the  calm  voice  of  Agmahd  again  spoke  : — • 

"  Our  queen  is  welcome,  and  we  do  her  all  rever 
ence." 

The  veiled  figure  bowed  its  head,  and  then  advanced 
nearer.  Agmahd  spoke  once  more,  after  a  pause  of 
total  silence — 

'•  Cannot  our  lady  make  her  subjects  more  open-eyed, 
and  give  them  commands  as  before?" 

The  figure  stooped,  and  seemed  to  trace  something 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  29 

on  the  ground.  I  looked  and  saw  the  words  in  letters 
of  fire,  which  vanished  as  they  came — 

"Yes  ;  but  the  child  must  enter  my  sanctuary  alone 
with  me." 

I  saw  the  words,  I  say,  and  my  very  flesh  trembled 
with  horror.  The  unintelligible  dread  of  this  veiled 
form  was  so  powerful  that  I  would  rather  have  died 
than  fulfil  such  a  command.  The  priests  were  silent, 
and  I  guessed  that,  as  the  figure,  so. the  fiery  letters 
were  invisible  to  them.  Immediately  I  reflected  that 
if,  strange  and  incredible  as  it  seemed,  it  were  so,  they 
would  not  know  of  the  command.  Terrified  PS  I  was, 
how  could  I  bring  myself  to  frame  the  words  which 
should  bring  upon  me  an  ordeal  so  utterly  dreadful  ? 

I  remained  silent.  The  figure  turned  suddenly  to 
wards  me  and  seemed  to  look  on  me.  Then  again  it 
traced,  in  the  swiftly  vanishing,  fiery  letters — "  Pass 
on  my  message." 

But  I  could  not ;  indeed,  horror  had  now  made  it 
physically  impossible.  My  tongue  was  swollen,  and 
seemed  to  fill  my  mouth. 

The  figure  turned  to  me  with  a  gesture  of  fierce 
anger.  With  a  quick,  gliding  movement,  it  darted  to 
wards  me,  and  drew  the  veil  from  its  face. 

My  eyes  seemed  to  start  from  their  sockets,  as  that 
face  was  upturned  close  to  mine.  It  was  not  hideous, 
though  the  eyes  were  full  of  an  icy  anger — an  anger 
that  flashed  not,  but  froze.  It  was  not  hideous,  yet  it 
filled  me  with  such  loathing  and  fear  as  I  had  never 
imagined  possible,  and  the  horror  of  it  lay  in  the  fear 
ful  unnaturalness  of  the  countenance.  It  seemed  to 
be  formed  of  the  elements  of  flesh  and  blood,  yet  it 
impressed  me  as  being  only  a  mask  of  humanity — a 


30 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 


fearful,  corporeal  unreality — a  thing  made  up  of  flesh 
and  blood,  without  the  life  of  flesh  and  blood.  Into 
a  second  were  crowded  these  horrors.  Then  with  a 
piercing  shriek,  I  swooned  for  the  second  time  in  that 
day — my  first  day  in  the  temple. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HEN  I  awoke  I  felt  my  body  to  be  covered 
with  a  cold  dew,  and  my  limbs  seemed 
lifeless.  I  lay  helplessly  wondering  where 
I  was. 

It  was  still  and  dark,  and  at  first  the  sense  of  solitary 
quiet  was  delightful.  But  soon  my  mind  began  to 
review  the  events  which  had  made  the  past  day  seem 
like  a  year  to  me.  The  vision  of  the  white  Lotus- 
flower  grew  strong  in  my  eyes,  but  waned  as  my  ter 
rified  soul  flew  on  to  the  recollection  of  that  later  and 
most  horrible  sight — that  which,  indeed,  had  been  the 
last  before  them,  until  now  \vhen  I  awoke  in  the  dark 
ness. 

Again  I  saw  it :  again,  in  my  imagination,  I  saw  that 
uplifted  face — its  ghastly  unreality,  the  cold  glare  of 
its  cruel  eyes.  I  was  unstrung,  unnerved,  exhausted — 
and  again,  though  now  the  vision  seemed  but  my  own 
imagination,  I  cried  aloud  in  terror. 

Immediately  I  saw  a  light  approach  the  doorway  of 
my  room,  and  a  priest  entered,  carrying  a  silver  lamp. 

I  saw  by  its  rays,  that  I  was  in  a  chamber  which  I 
had  not  before  entered,  It  seemed  full  of  comfort. 


32  TTTE  IDYLL  OF 

I  saw  that  soft  falling  curtains  made  it  secluded,  and  I 
felt  that  the  air  was  full  of  a  pleasant  fragrance. 

The  priest  approached,  and  as  he  neared  me  he 
bowed  his  head. 

"  What  needs  my  lord  ?  "  he  said.  "  Shall  I  bring 
fresh  water  if  thou  art  thirsty  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  thirsty,"  I  answered ;  "  I  am  afraid — 
afraid  of  the  horrible  tiling  which  I  have  seen." 

"Nay,"  he  answered,"  it  is  but  thy  youth  that  makes 
thee  afraid.  The  gaze  of  our  all-powerful  lady  is  at  all 
times  enough  to  make  a  man  swoon.  Fear  not,  for 
thou  art  honored  in  that  thine  eyes  have  vision.  What 
shall  I  bring  to  give  thee  ease  ?  " 

"  Is  it  night?"  I  said,  restlessly  turning  upon  my 
soft  couch. 

"It  is  near  morning  now,"  answered  the  priest. 

"  Oh  that  the  day  would  come  !  "  I  exclaimed  ;  "  that 
the  blessed  sun  should  blot  from  my  eyes  the  thing 
that  makes  me  shudder  !  I  am  afraid  of  the  darkness, 
for  the  darkness  is  the  evil  face  !  " 

"  I  will  stay  beside  your  bed,"  said  the  priest  quietly. 
He  placed  the  silver  lamp  upon  a  stand  and  sat  down 
near  me.  His  face  relapsed  into  instant  composure, 
and  ere  he  had  been  there  a  moment  he  seemed  to  me 
naught  but  a  carven  statue.  His  eyes  were  cold :  his 
speech  though  full  of  kind  words,  had  no  warmth  in  it. 
I  shrank  away  from  him  ;  for  as  I  looked  on  him  the 
vision  of  the  corridor  seemed  to  rise  between  us.  I 
bore  this  a  while,  trying  to  find  comfort  in  his  pres 
ence  ;  but  at  length  I  burst  forth  in  words,  forgetting 
my  fear  of  giving  offence,  which  had  kept  me  until 
now  so  obediently  quiet. 

"  Oh,  I  cannot  bear  it  ?  "  I  cried.    "  Let  me  go  away ; 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  33 

let  rae  go  out — into  the  garden — anywhere  !  The 
whole  place  is  full  of  the  vision.  I  see  it  everywhere. 
I  cannot  shut  my  eyes  against  it  ?  Oh,  let  me — let  me 
go  away  I " 

"  Rebel  not  against  the  vision,"  answered  the  priest. 
"  It  came  to  thee  from  the  sanctuary — from  the  most 
sacred  shrine.  It  has  marked  thee  as  one  different 
from  others,  one  who  will  be  honored  and  cared  for 
among  us.  But  thou  must  subdue  the  rebellion  of  thy 
heart." 

I  was  silent.  The  words  sank  like  cold  icicles  upon 
my  soul.  I  did  not  grasp  their  meaning — indeed,  it  was 
impossible  that  I  should  ;  but  was  sensitively  alive  to 
the  chill  of  the  speech.  After  a  long  pause,  in  which 
I  tried  hard  to  put  thought  out  of  my  mind,  and  so  to 
obtain  release  from  my  fears,  a  sudden  recollection 
seized  me  with  an  agreeable  sense  of  relief. 

"Where,". I  said,"  is  the  black  man  whom  I  saw  in 
the  garden  yesterday  ?  M 

"  What  ? — the  gardener,  Seboua  ?  He  will  be  sleep 
ing  in  his  chamber.  But  when  the  dawn  breaks  he 
will  rise  and  go  out  into  the  garden." 

"  May  I  go  with  him  ? "  I  asked,  with  feverish 
anxiety,  even  clasping  my  hands  as  in  prayer,  so  dis 
tressed  was  I  lest  I  should  be  refused. 

"  Into  the  garden  ?  If  you  are  restless,  it  will  soothe 
the  fever  that  is  upon  your  frame,  to  go  among  the 
morning  dews  and  the  fresh  flowers.  I  will  call  Seboua 
to  fetch  you,  when  I  see  the  dawn  breaking." 

I  heaved  a  deep  sigh  of  relief  at  this  easy  assent  to 
my  prayer ;  and  turning  away  from  the  priest,  lay  still 
with  closed  eyes,  trying  to  keep  all  horrid  sights  or 
imaginings  from  me  by  the  thought  of  the  sense  of  de- 


34  THE  IDYLL  OF 

light  which  would  soon  be  mine  when  I  should  leave  the 
close,  artificially  perfumed  chamber  for  the  sweetness 
and  free  inbreathing  of  the  outer  air. 

I  said  no  word,  waiting  patiently;  and  the  priest  sat 
motionless  beside  me.  At  last,  after  what  seemed  to 
me  hours  of  weary  waiting,  he  rose  and  extinguished 
the  silver  lamp.  I  saw  then  that  a  dim  gray  light  en 
tered  the  room  from  the  lofty  windows. 

kil  will  call  Seboua,"  he  said,  turning  to  me,  "  and 
send  him  to  you.  Remember  that  this  is  your  cham 
ber,  which  is  henceforth  to  belong  to  you.  Return  here 
before  the  morning  ceremonies ;  there  will  be  novices 
waiting  with  the  bath  and  oil  for  your  anointment." 

u  And  how,"  said  I,  much  terrified  at  the  idea  of  be 
ing,  by  some  strange  destiny,  so  important  a  person, — 
"  how  shall  I  know  when  to  return  here  ?  " 

"  You  need  not  come  till  after  the  morning  meal. 
A  bell  rings  for  that;  and,  moreover,  Seboua  will  tell 
you."  With  these  words  he  departed. 

I  was  full  of  pleasure  at  the  thought  of  the  fresh  air 
which  would  revive  my  unnaturally  wearied  body;  and 
I  longed  to  see  Seboua's  strange  face,  and  the  sweet 
smile  which  would  now  and  again  obliterate  his  ugli 
ness.  It  seemed  as  though  his  had  been  the  only 
human  face  I  had  seen  since  I  parted  with  my  mother. 

I  looked  to  see  if  I  still  wore  my  linen  garment  so 
that  I  was  ready  to  go  with  him.  Yes,  it  was  on  me, 
my  pure  white  dress.  I  looked  on  it  with  a  sense  of 
pride,  for  I  had  never  worn  anything  so  finely  woven 
before.  I  was  so  far  restored  to  quietude  by  the  idea 
of  being  again  with  Seboua  that  I  lay  looking  idly  at 
my  dress,  and  wondering  what  my  mother  would  have 
thought,  seeing  me  clad  in  this  fine  and  delicate  linen. 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  35 

It  was  not  long  before  I  heard  a  step  which  roused 
me  from  my  dreaming ;  Seboua's  strange  visage  ap 
peared  in  the  doorway ;  Seboua's  black  form  advanced 
towards  me.  He  was  ugly — yes ;  uncouth — yes  ;  black 
and  without  any  fairness  of  appearance.  Yet  as  he 
entered  and  looked  on  me,  the  smile  which  I  remem 
bered  again  irradiated  his  face.  He  was  human  ! — 
loving ! 

I  stretched  out  my  hands  to  him  as  I  rose  from  my 
couch. 

"  O  Seboua !  "  I  Gaid,  the  tears  rising  in  my  foolish 
boy's  eyes  as  I  saw  this  gentleness  upon  his  face — 
"  Seboua,  why  am  I  here  ?  What  is  it  that  makes  them 
say  I  am  different  from  others  ?  Seboua,  tell  me,  am 
I  again  to  see  that  awful  form  ?" 

Seboua  came  and  knelt  beside  me.  It  seemed  natural 
in  this  black  man  to  kneel  down  when  a  sense  of  awe 
overcame  him. 

"  My  son,""  he  said,  "  thou  art  gifted  from  heaven 
with  unclosed  eyes.  Be  brave  in  the  possession  of  the 
gift  and  thou  shalt  be  a  light  in  the  midst  of  the  dark 
ness  that  is  descending  upon  our  unhappy  land." 

"  I  don't  want  to  be,"  I  said  fretfully.  I  was  not 
afraid  of  him,  and  my  rebellion  must  out.  "  I  don't 
want  to  do  anything  which  makes  one  feel  so  strange. 
Why  have  I  beheld  this  ghastly  face  which  even  now 
comes  before  my  eyes  and  blots  out  from  them  the  light 
of  day?" 

"  Come  with  me,"  said  Seboua,  rising  instead  of  an 
swering  my  question,  and  holding  out  his  hand  to  me. 
"  Come,  and  we  will  go  among  the  flowers,  and  talk  of 
these  things  when  the  fresh  airs  have  cooled  thy  brow." 

I  rose,   nothing  loth,  and  hand   in  hand  we  passed 


36  THE  IDYLL  OF 

through  the  corridors  until  we  reached  a  door  that  ad 
mitted  us  to  the  garden. 

How  can  I  describe  the  sense  of  exhilaration  with 
which  I  drank  in  the  morning  air  ?  It  was  incomparably 
greater  and  keener  a  delight  than  anything  in  the 
world  of  nature  had  ever  before  imparted  to  me.  Not 
only  did  I  pass  out  of  a  secluded  and  scented  atmos 
phere,  different  from  any  to  which  I  had  been  accus 
tomed,  but  also  the  terrified,  over-excited  mental  state 
which  I  was  in  was  infinitely  cooled  and  re-assured  by 
the  renewed  sense  that  the  world  was  still  beautiful  and 
natural  outside  the  temple  doors. 

Seboua,  looking  in  my  face,  seemed  by  some  subtle 
sympathy  to  detect  my  vague  thoughts  and  interpret 
them  to  me. 

"  The  sun  still  rises  in  all  his  magnificence,"  he  said. 
"  The  flowers  still  open  their  hearts  to  his  greeting. 
Open  thou  thine,  and  be  content." 

I  did  not  answer  him.  I  was  young  and  untaught. 
I  could  not  readily  answer  him  in  words,  but  I  looked 
up  in  his  face  as  we  moved  across  the  garden,  and  I 
suppose  my  eyes  must  have  spoken  forme. 

"My  son,"  he  said,  "  because  in  the  night  you  have 
been  into  the  darkness,  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt 
that  the  light  still  is  behind  the  darkness.  You  do  not 
fear  when  lying  down  to  sleep  at  night  that  you  will  see 
the  sun  in  the  morning.  You  have  been  into  deeper 
darkness  than  that  of  the  night,  and  you  will  see  a 
brighter  sun  than  this." 

I  did  not  understand  him,  though  I  revolved  his 
words  in  my  mind.  I  said  nothing,  for  the  sweet  air, 
and  the  sense  of  human  sympathy,  were  enough  forme. 
I  seemed  careless  of  hearing  words,  or  understanding 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  37 

my  experiences,  now  that  I  was  out  in  the  fresh  air. 
I  was  but  a  boy,  and  the  sheer  delight  of  my  reviving 
strength  made  me  forget  all  else. 

This  was  natural;  and  all  that  was  natural  seemed  to 
me,  to-day,  to  be  abundantly  full  of  charm.  Yet  no 
sooner  had  I  entered  the  natural  once  more  and  begun 
to  revel  in  my  return  to  it,  than  suddenly  and  unawares 
I  was  taken  out  of  it. 

Whither  ?  Alas !  how  can  I  tell  ?  There  are  no 
adequate  words  in  the  languages  of  the  wo  rid  to  des 
cribe  any  real  thing  which  lies  outside  the  circle  that 
is  called  natural. 

Surely  I  stood  with  my  own  feet  upon  the  green 
grass — surely  I  had  not  departed  from  the  spot  where 
on  I  stood  ?  Surely  Seboua  stood  by  me  ?  I  pressed 
his  hand.  Yes,  it  was  there.  Yet  I  knew  by  my  sensa 
tions  that  the  natural  had  yielded  me  up,  and  that  again 
I  was  within  the  world  of  feeling — sight — sound  which 
I  dreaded. 

I  saw  nothing — I  heard  nothing — yet  I  stood  in  hor 
ror,  trembling  as  the  leaves  tremble  before  a  storm. 
What  was  I  about  to  see  ?  What  was  near  me  ?  What 
was  it  that  drew  a  cloud  across  my  eyes  ? 

I  closed  them.  I  dared  not  look.  I  dared  not  face 
the  dimness  of  the  realities  around  me.- 

"  Open  thine  eyes,  my  son,"  said  Seboua,  "  and  tell 
me,  is  our  lady  there  ?  " 

I  opened  them,  dreading  to  behold  the  awful  face 
which  had  filled  me  with  fear  in  the  darkness  of  the 
night.  But  no — for  a  moment  I  saw  nothing — and  I 
sighed  with  relief,  for  I  always  expected  to  see  that  face 
uplifted  close  to  mine,  with  a  grin  of  anger  upon  it. 
But  in  another  second,  my  frame  thrilled  with  delight- 


38  THE  IDYLL  OV 

Seboua  had  brought  me,  without  my  perceiving  it,  close 
beside  the  lotus  tank  ;  and  I  saw,  stooping  as  before, 
to  drink  the  clear  flowing  water,  the  fair  woman  whose 
long  golden  hair  half  hid  her  face  from  me. 

"  Speak  to  her  !  "  cried  Seboua.  "  I  see  by  thy  face 
that  she  is  before  thee.  Oh,  speak  to  her  !  Not  in  this 
generation  has  she  spoken  with  her  priests — speak  to 
her,  for  indeed  we  need  her  help  !  " 

Seboua  had  fallen  on  his  knees  by  my  side,  as  yester 
day  he  had  done.  His  face  was  full  of  earnestness  and 
glow — his  eyes  full  of  a  prayer.  Looking  into  them  I 
sank  back  overcome,  I  could  not  tell  by  what,  but  it 
seemed  as  though  the  golden-haired  woman  called  me  to 
her,  and  as  though  Seboua  pushed  me  towards  her,  yet 
in  my  body  I  was  no  nearer  to  her  ;  but  in  my  conscious 
ness  I  appeared  to  rise  and  move  towards  the  lily  tank, 
until,  leaning  upon  its  ledge,  I  touched  her  garment 
where  it  fell  upon  the  surface  of  the  water.  I  looked 
up  into  her  face,  but  I  could  not  see  it.  Light  radiated 
from  it,  and  I  could  only  look  at  it  as  I  might  look  upon 
the  sun.  Yet  I  felt  the  touch  of  her  hand  upon  my 
head,  and  words  crept  into  my  mind  which  emanated 
from  her,  though  I  was  scarcely  conscious  that  I  heard 
them. 

"  Child  with  the  open  eyes,"  she  said,  "  thy  soul  is 
pure,  and  upon  it  is  laid  a  heavy  task.  But  keep  thou 
near  to  me  who  am  full  of  light,  and  I  will  show  thee 
the  way  to  plant  thy  feet." 

"  Mother,"  said  I,  "  what  of  the  darkness  ?  " 

I  scarce  dared  frame  my  question  more  plainly.  It 
seemed  that  if  I  spoke  of  that  terrible  face  it  would  ap 
pear  in  anger  before  me.  I  felt  a  thrill  pass  through 
me  from  her  hands  as  I  uttered  the  words.  I  fancied 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  3<> 

that  it  must  be  anger  which  was  about  to  descend  on 
me,  but  her  voice  passed  into  my  consciousness  as 
sweetly  and  softly  as  raindrops,  and  imparted  to  me  the 
same  sense  of  divine  sending  that  we  dwellers  in  a 
thirsty  land  associate  with  the  advent  of  the  sweet 
moisture. 

"  The  darkness  is  not  to  be  feared  ;  it  is  to  be  con 
quered  and  driven  back,  as  the  soul  grows  stronger  in 
the  light.  My  son,  there  is  darkness  in  that  innermost 
sanctuary  of  the  temple,  because  the  worshippers  there 
in  cannot  bear  the  light.  The  light  of  your  world  is 
excluded  from  it,  that  it  may  be  illumined  with  the  light 
of  the  spirit.  But  the  blind  priests,  hid  in  their  own 
conceit,  comfort  themselves  with  the  brood  of  darkness. 
They  mock  my  name  by  using  it  ;  tell  them,  my  son, 
that  their  queen  holds  no  sway  in  the  realms  of  dark 
ness.  They  have  no  queen  ;  they  have  no  guide  but 
their  blind  desires.  This  is  the  first  message  you  are 
charged  with— did  they  not  ask  for  one  ?  " 

At  this  moment  I  seemed  drawn  back  from  her.  I 
clung  to  her  garment  hem,  but  my  hands  were  power 
less  ;  as  I  lost  my  hold  upon  her  I  seemed  also  to  lose 
the  sense  of  her  presence.  I  was  conscious  only  of  an 
intolerable  feeling  of  physical  irritation.  My  eyes  had 
closed,  helplessly,  as  I  drew  from  her  ;  I  opened  them 
with  an  effort.  I  saw  before  me  only  the  lotus  tank, 
filled  with  blossoms  of  the  queen  of  flowers — filled  with 
blossoms  which  floated  royally  upon  the  surface  of  the 
water.  The  sunshine  lay  upon  their  golden  hearts,  and  I 
saw  in  them  the  color  of  golden  hair.  But  a  voice,  full  of 
wrath,  though  speaking  slowly  and  with  deliberate  into 
nation,  aroused  me  from  dwelling  upon  the  fringe  of  my 
dream. 


40 


TUE  WHITE  LOTUS. 


I  turned  my  head  and  beheld,  to  my  amazement, 
Seboua  standing  between  two  novices  ;  his  head  bowed, 
his  hands  crossed.  Near  to  me  stood  the  high  priests 
Agmahd  and  Kamen  ;  Agmahd  was  speaking  to  Seboua. 
I  soon  gathered  that  he  was  in  disgrace  on  account  of 
me,  but  I  could  not  discover  what  he  had  done. 

Agmahd  and  Kamen  placed  themselves  on  either  side 
of  me.  And  I  understood  that  I  was  to  walk  between 
them.  We  advanced  in  silence  towards  the  temple,  and 
entered  again  its  gloomy  gates. 


CHAPTER  V. 

WAS  led  into  the  hall  where  the  priests  had 
been  taking  their  morning  meal.  The  room 
was  almost  deserted  now ;  but  Agmahd 
and  Kamen  remained  talking,  in  their  low 
subdued  tones,  by  one  of  the  windows,  while  two 
novices  led  me  to  a  place  by  the  table,  and  brought  me 
oiled  cakes,  fruit,  and  milk.  It  was  strange  to  me  to 
be  waited  on  by  these  youths,  who  did  not  speak  to  me, 
and  whom  I  regarded  with  awe  as  being  more  ex 
perienced  than  myself  in  the  terrible  mysteries  of  the 
temple.  I  wondered,  as  I  ate  my  cakes,  why  they  had 
not  spoken  to  me,  any  of  the  novices  whom  I  had  seen; 
but  looking  back  over  the  brief  time  which  I  had  spent 
in  the  temple,  I  recollected  that  I  had  never  been  left 
alone  with  one  of  them.  Even  now,  Agmahd  and  Ka 
men  remained  in  the  room,  so  that,  as  I  saw,  a  silence 
of  fear  was  upon  the  faces  of  the  youths  who  served 
me.  And  I  fancied  it  to  be  a  fear,  not  as  of  a  school 
master  who  uses  his  eyes  like  ordinary  mortals,  but  a$ 
of  some  many-sighted  and  magical  observer  who  is  not 
to  be  deceived.  I  saw  no  gleam  of  expression  on  the 
countenance  of  either  of  the  youths.  They  acted  like 
automata. 


42  THE  IDYLL  OF 

The  exhaustion  which  had  again  taken  possession  of 
my  frame  was  lessened  by  the  food,  and  when  I  had 
eaten  I  rose  eagerly  to  look  from  the  high  window,  to 
see  if  Seboua  were  in  the  garden.  But  Aginahd  ad 
vanced,  stepped  between  me  and  the  window,  and 
gazed  upon  me  with  the  immovable  look  which  made 
me  dread  him  so  deeply. 

"  Come,"  he  said.  He  turned  and  moved  away  ;  I 
followed  him  with  drooping  head,  and  all  my  new 
energy  and  hope  departed;  why,  I  knew  not;  I  could 
not  tell  why  I  gazed  upon  the  embroidered  hem  of  the 
white  garment — which  seemed  to  glide  so  smoothly 
over  the  ground  in  front  of  me — with  a  sense  that  I  was 
following  my  doom. 

My  doom  !  Agmahd  the  typical  priest  of  the  temple, 
the  real  leader  among  the  high  priests.  My  doom. 

We  passed  down  the  corridors  till  we  entered  upon 
the  wide  one  which  led  from  the  gate  of  the  temple  to 
the  holy  of  holies.  A  horror  filled  me  at  the  sight  of 
it,  even  with  the  sunlight  streaming  through  the  gate 
way,  and  making  mock  of  its  unutterable  shadows. 
Yet  so  deep  was  my  dread  of  Aginahd,  that,  left  thus 
alone  with  him,  I  followed  him  in  perfect  obedience 
and  silence.  We  passed  down  the  corridor — with  each 
reluctant  step  of  mine  I  drew  nearer  to  that  terrible 
door  whence,  in  the  darkness  of  the  night,  I  had  seen 
the  hideous  form  emerge.  I  was  scanning  the  wall 
with  the  kind  of  terror  with  which  a  tormented  soul 
might  gaze  upon  the  awful  instruments  of  spiritual  in 
quisition.  It  is  impossible,  once  looking  upon  some 
impending  doom  with  open  eyes,  not  to  remain  gazing 
thereon  with  abject  yet  riveted  attention.  Such  did  I 
in  my  blind  fear  bestow  upon  the  walls  of  the  long  cor- 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  43 

ridor,  which,  to  my  fancy,  as  we  moved  down  it,  seemed 
to  close  upon  us  and  to  shut  us  from  all  the  bright, 
beautiful  world  which  I  had  lived  in  until  now. 

Scanning  thus  intently  these  smooth  and  terrible 
walls,  I  perceived,  as  we  approached  it,  a  little  door 
which  stood  at  right  angles  with  the  door  of  the  sanct 
uary.  It  would  have  escaped  any  observation  but  one 
unnaturally  tense;  for  the  darkness  at  this  far  end  of 
the  corridor  was  deep  indeed,  by  contrast  with  the 
glowing  sunlight  we  had  left  at  the  other. 

We  approached  this  door.  As  I  have  said,  it  stood 
at  right  angles  with  the  wall  of  the  sanctuary.  It  was 
close  to  the  door  of  it,  but  it  was  in  the  wall  of  the  cor 
ridor. 

My  steps  seemed  to  be  taken  without  my  own  voli 
tion  now ;  certainly  my  will  would  have  carried  me 
back  to  the  sunshine  which  made  the  world  beautiful 
with  flowers — which  made  life  seem  a  glorious  reality, 
and  not  a  hideous  and  unimaginable  dream  ! 

Yet  there  it  was — the  door — and  Agmahd  stood,  his 
hand  upon  it.  He  turned  and  looked  at  me. 

"  Have  no  fear,"  he  said,  in  his  calm,  equable  tones. 
"  Our  sanctuary  is  the  centre  of  our  home,  and  its  near 
neighborhood  is  enough  to  fill  us  with  strength." 

I  passed  through  the  same  experience  as  when  first 
Agmahd  encouraged  me  by  his  voice  in  the  garden.  I 
raised  my  eyes,  with  an  effort,  to  his,  that  I  might  dis 
cover  whether  there  was  the  same  encouragement  in 
his  beautiful  countenance.  But  all  that  I  saw  was  the 
intolerable  calm  of  those  blue  eyes  ;  they  were  pitiless, 
immovable :  my  soul,  aghast,  beheld  in  them  at  that 
moment  fully  the  cruelty  of  the  beast  of  prey. 

He  turned  from  me  and  opened  the  door;  and,  pass- 


44  THE  IDYLL  OF 

ing  through  it,  held  it  open  that  I  might  follow  him.  I 
followed  him — yes,  though  my  steps  seemed  to  recoil 
upon  myself  and  lead  me  to  the  deeps. 

We  entered  a  low-roofed  room,  lighted  by  one  broad 
window,  high  in  the  wall.  It  was  curtained  and  draped 
with  rich  material ;  a  low  couch  stood  at  one  side  of  the 
room.  When  my  glance  fell  on  the  couch  I  started; 
why,  I  know  not ;  but  I  at  once  thought  it  to  be  the 
couch  which  I  had  slept  on  in  the  last  night.  I  could 
look  at  nothing  else,  though  there  were  many  beautiful 
things  to  look  at,  for  the  room  was  adorned  luxuriously. 
I  only  wondered,  with  a  shrinking  heart,  why  that 
couch  had  been  removed  from  the  room  in  which  I  had 
slept. 

While  I  looked  on  it,  lost  in  conjecture,  I  suddenly 
became  conscious  of  silence — complete  silence — and  of 
loneliness. 

I  turned  with  a  sudden  alarm. 

Yes!  I  was  alone.  He  was  gone — the  dread  priest 
Agmahd — he  had  gone  without  another  word,  and  left 
me  in  this  room. 

What  could  it  mean  ? 

I  crossed  to  the  door  and  tried  it.  It  was  fast  closed 
and  barred. 

I  was  a  prisoner.  But  what  could  it  mean  ?  I  looked 
around  the  massive  stone  walls — I  glanced  up  at  the 
high  window — I  thought  of  the  near  neighborhood  uf 
the  sanctuary — and  I  flung  myself  upon  the  couch  and 
hid  my  face. 

I  imagine  that  I  must  have  lain  there  for  hours.  I 
did  not  dare  to  arise  and  make  any  disturbance.  I  had 
nothing  to  appeal  to  but  the  blue,  pitiless  eyes  of 
the  priest  Agmahd.  I  lay  upon  my  couch  with  fast- 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  45 

closed  eyes,  not  daring  to  face  the  aspect  of  my  prison, 
and  praying  that  the  night  might  never  come. 

It  was  yet  the  early  part  of  the  day,  that  I  felt  sure 
of,  although  I  knew  not  how  long  a  time  I  had  passed 
in  the  garden  with  Sebona.  The  sun  was  high,  and 
streamed  in  at  my  window.  I  saw  this  as,  after  a  long 
time  had  passed,  I  turned  and  looked  around  my  room 
with  a  sudden  and  alarmed  glance.  I  had  the  idea 
that  some  one  was  in  it — but,  unless  hidden  behind  the 
curtains,  no  visible  form  was  in  the  room. 

No,  I  was  alone.  And  as  I  gathered  courage  to 
look  up  to  the  sunlight  that  made  my  window  a  thing 
glorious  for  the  eyes,  I  began  to  realize  that  it  still 
veritably  was  in  existence ;  and  that,  notwithstanding 
my  recent  hideous  experiences,  I  was  nothing  but  a 
boy  who  loved  sunshine. 

The  attraction  grew  very  strong,  and  at  last  fanned 
itself  into  the  wish  to  climb  up  to  the  high  window 
and  look.  The  passion  which  caused  me  to  desire  so 
ardently  to  do  this,  having  once  thought  of  it,  I  can 
no  more  account  for  than  I  could  for  most  of  the 
inquisitive  and  headstrong  purposes  of  a  boy's  brain. 
At  all  events  I  rose  from  my  couch — casting  all  terror 
of  my  surroundings  to  the  winds,  now  that  I  had  a 
purpose  sufficiently  childish  to  absorb  me.  The  wall 
was  perfectly  smooth ;  but  I  fancied  that,  by  standing 
on  a  table  that  was  beneath  ihe  window,  I  could  reach 
the  sill  with  my  hands,  and  so  raise  myself  up  to  see 
out.  I  soon  climbed  the  table,  but  I  could  barely  reach 
the  sill  with  upstretchcd  arms.  I  jumped  a  little,  and 
just  catching  hold  of  the  sill  managed  to  draw  myself 
upwards.  I  suppose  that  part  of  the  enterprise  must 
have  been  the  delight  to  me ;  for  I  certainly  did  not 


46  THE  IDYLL  OF 

anticipate  seeing   anything   but   the   temple   gardens. 

What  I  saw,  though  there  was  nothing  perhaps  very 
startling,  sobered  my  enjoyment. 

The  gardens  were  not  there.  My  window  looked 
out  upon  a  small  square  piece  of  ground,  which  was 
surrounded  by  high  blank  walls.  I  soon  saw  that  these 
were  evidently  walls  of  the  temple,  not  outer  walls. 
The  piece  of  ground  was  enclosed  in  the  very  heart  of 
the  great  building,  for  I  could  see  its  columns  and 
roofs  rising  beyond  each  side,  and  the  walls  were 
blank.  Mine  was  the  only  window  I  could  perceive 
any  trace  of. 

At  that  moment  I  heard  a  faint  sound  in  the  room, 
and,  quickly  letting  myself  drop,  I  stood  upon  the 
table,  looking  round  in  consternation.  The  sound 
seemed  to  proceed  from  behind  a  heavy  curtain  that 
half  covered  one  wall.  I  stood  breathless,  and,  even  in 
this  broad  daylight  and  gleaming  sunshine,  somewhat 
in  terror  of  what  I  might  see.  For  I  had  no  idea  that 
there  was  any  mode  of  entrance  but  that  door  by  which 
I  had  come,  so  that  I  scarce  dared  to  hope  for  a  whole 
some  human  presence ! 

These  fears  soon  vanished,  however,  for  the  curtain 
was  drawn  a  little  back,  and  a  black-robed  novice — 
whom  I  had  not  seen  before — crept  from  out  its  shelter. 
I  wondered  at  his  stealthy  manner ;  but  I  had  no  fears, 
for  he  held  in  his  hand  a  glorious  blossom  of  the  royal 
white  lotus  flower.  I  sprang  from  the  table  and  ad 
vanced  towards  him,  my  eyes  upon  the  flower.  When 
quite  close  he  spoke,  very  low  and  quickly. 

"  This,"  he  said,  "  is  from  Seboua.  Cherish  it,  but 
let  none  of  the  priests  see  it.  Cherish  it,  and  it  will 
help  you  in  hours  when  you  will  need  help;  and 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  47 

Seboua  urges  that  you  remember  all  the  words  he  has 
said  to  you,  and  that  you  trust,  above  all,  to  your  love 
for  the  truly  beautiful  and  to  your  natural  likes  and 
dislikes.  That  is  the  message,"  he  said,  stepping  back 
towards  the  curtain.  "  I  am  risking  my  life  here  to 
please  Seboua.  Be  careful  that  you  never  come  near 
this  door,  or  show  that  you  know  it  exists ;  it  opens 
into  the  private  room  of  the  high  priest  Agmahd,  into 
which  none  dare  enter  save  on  peril  of  intolerable  pun 
ishment." 

"And  how  have  you  come  through?"  Tasked  in 
great  curiosity. 

'•  They  are  engaged  in  the  morning  ceremonies — all 
the  priests — and  I  succeeded  in  escaping  unseen  to 
come  to  you." 

"  Tell  me,"  I  cried,  holding  him  even  as  he  endeav 
ored  to  hurry  through  the  door,  "  why  did  not  Seboua 
come?" 

"  He  cannot — he .  is  closely  watched  that  he  may 
make  no  effort  to  get  near  you." 

"  But  why  is  this  ?  "  I  exclaimed  in  dismay  and 
wonder. 

"  I  cannot  tell,"  said  the  novice,  extracting  his  gar 
ment  from  my  grasp.  "  Remember  the  words  I  have 
said." 

He  hastily  passed  through  the  door  and  closed  it 
behind  him.  I  found  myself  half  smothered  by  the 
heavy  curtain,  and,  as  soon  as  I  could  recover  from 
my  amazement  at  this  sudden  appearance  and  disap 
pearance,  I  moved  it  aside  and  stepped  out,  the  lily  iu 
my  hand. 

My  first  thought,  even  before  I  would  let  myself 
think  over  the  words  which  I  was  to  remember — was 


48  THE  IDYLL  Of 

to  place  my  precious  flower  in  some  safe  place.  I  held 
it  tenderly,  as  though  it  were  the  breathing  form  of 
one  I  loved.  I  looked  around  anxiously,  wondering 
where  it  would  be  both  unseen  and  yet  preserved. 

I  saw,  after  a  few  moments  spent  in  hasty  inspec 
tion,  that  just  behind  the  head  of  my  couch  there  was 
a  corner  which  the  curtain  fell  a  little  away  from. 
Here,  at  least,  I  might  place  it  for  a  while ;  it  would 
have  room  to  breathe,  and  would  not  be  seen  unless  the 
curtain  were  moved  away — and  behind  my  couch 
seemed  a  less  likely  place  for  it  to  be  discovered  in 
than  any  other.  I  hastily  placed  it  here,  afraid  to  keep 
it  in  my  hand  lest  the  ceremonies  should  be  over  and 
Agmahd  enter  my  room.  So  I  hid  it,  and  then 
looked  around  for  some  vessel  of  water  in  which  I 
might- place  it,  for  it  occurred  to  me  that,  if  I  did  not 
supply  it  with  some  of  that  element  which  it  so  dearly 
loved,  it  would  not  live  long  to  be  my  friend. 

I  found  a  little  earthen  jar  of  water  and  placed  it  in  it, 
wondering  the  while  what  I  should  do  if  the  priests, 
discovering  its  absence,  should  ask  me  for  it.  I  could 
not  tell  what  to  do  in  such  an  emergency  ;  but,  if  the 
flower  were  discovered,  I  could  only  hope  that  some 
inspiration  would  be  given  me  by  which  I  might  avoid 
throwing  further  blame  upon  Seboua ;  for,  though  I 
could  not  understand  why  or  how,  it  was  very  evi 
dent  that  he  had  been  blamed  for  something  in  con 
nection  with  me. 

I  went  and  sat  on  the  conch,  to  be  near  my  beloved 
flower.  How  I  desired  that  I  might  place  it  in  the  sun 
shine  and  revel  in  its  beauties  ! 

In  this  way  the  day  passed.  No  one  came  near  me. 
I  watched  the  sun  pass  away  from  my  window.  I 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  49 

watched  the  shadows  of  evening  descend  upon  it.  I 
was  still  alone.  I  do  not  think  I  grew  more  terrified. 
I  do  not  remember  that  the  coming  night  brought 
with  it  any  agony  of  fear.  I  was  filled  with  a  deep 
calmness,  which  either  the  long  undisturbed  hours  of 
the  day  had  produced,  or  else  it  was  wrought  by  the 
beautiful  though  unseen  flower;  for  that  was  ever 
before  my  eyes  in  all  its  radiant  and  delicate  beauty. 
I  had  none  of  the  intolerable  visions  which  I  had  been 
unable  to  drive  from  me  in  the  former  night. 

It  was  quite  dark  when  the  door  which  communi 
cated  with  the  corridor  opened,  and  Agmahd  entered, 
followed  by  a  young  priest,  who  brought  me  food  and 
a  cup  of  some  strange  sweet-smelling  syrup.  I  should 
not  have  stirred  from  my  couch  had  it  not  been  that  I 
longed  for  food.  I  had  not  thought  of  it  before,  but  I 
was  indeed  faint  and  fasting.  I  rose  eagerly,  therefore, 
and,  when  the  young  priest  brought  the  food  to  my 
side,  I  drank  first  of  the  syrup — which  indeed  he 
offered  me  first — for  my  exhaustion  suddenly  became 
plain  to  me. 

Agmahd  looked  on  me  as  I  drank.  When  I  had  put 
down  the  cup,  I  raised  my  eyes  to  his  with  a  new  de 
fiance. 

"  I  shall  go  mad,"  I  said  boldly,  "  if  you  leave  me 
in  this  room  alone.  I  have  never  been  left  alone  so 
long  in  all  my  life." 

I  spoke  under  a  sudden  impulse.  When  I  had  been 
passing  the  long  hours  in  solitude  they  had  not  seemed 
so  terrible  ;  but  now,  with  a  quick  apprehension  of  the 
evil  of  this  solitariness,  I  spoke  out  my  feeling. 

Agmahd  said  to  the  young  priest — 

4 


50  THE  IDYLL  OF 

"  Set  the  food  down,  and  fetch  hither  the  book  that 
lies  upon  the  couch  in  my  outer  room." 

He  departed  on  his  errand.  Agmahd  said  nothing 
to  me  ;  and  I — having  said  my  say,  and  not  having,  as 
I  rather  expected,  been  annihilated  for  it — took  up  an 
oiled  cake  from  the  platter,  and  cheerfully  went  on 
with  my  meal. 

Five  years  after  I  could  not  have  faced  Agmahd  in 
this  way.  I  could  not  have  eaten  my  fill  having  just 
defied  him.  But  now  I  was  elated  by  the  supreme 
ignorance  and  indifference  of  youth.  Iliad  no  measur 
ing  line  for  the  depths  of  the  priest's  intellect — the 
wide  embracingness  of  his  stern  cruelty.  How  should 
I  have  ?  I  was  ignorant.  And,  moreover,  I  had  no 
clue  to  the  mode  of  his  cruelty — the  purpose,  the 
intention  of  it.  I  was  in  the  dark  altogether.  But  I 
was  well  aware  that  my  life  in  the  temple  was  not 
what  I  had  looked  for  if  it  was  to  be  like  this,  and  I 
already  cherished  boyish  notions  of  escaping  from  it 
(even  down  the  terrible  corridor)  if  I  were  to  exist 
after  such  an  unhappy  fashion.  I  little  knew  when  I 
thought  of  this  how  well  I  was  guarded. 

Agmahd  said  no  word  while  I  ate  and  drank,  and 
presently  the  young  priest  opened  the  door  and  en 
tered,  bearing  in  his  hands  a  large  black  book.  He 
placed  it  on  a  table  which  Agmahd  told  him  to  draw 
near  to  my  couch.  A  lamp  was  then  brought  by  him 
from  a  corner  of  the  room  and  placed  on  the  table.  He 
lighted  it,  and  this  done,  Agmahd  spoke : 

"  You  need  not  be  lonely  if  you  look  within  those 
pages." 

So  saying,  he  turned  and  left  the  room,  followed  by 
the  young  priest. 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  51 

I  opened  it  at  once.  It  seems,  looking  back  on.  that 
time,  that  I  was  to  the  full  as  inquisitive  as  most  boys; 
at  all  events,  any  new  object  riveted  my  attention  for 
the  'time  being.  I  opened  the  black  covers  of  the  vol 
ume  and  gazed  on  the  first  page.  It  was  beautifully 
colored,  and  I  looked  in  pleasure  at  the  colors  a 
little  while  before  I  began  to  spell  out  the  letters. 
They  stood  out  from  a  gray  background  in  letters  of 
so  brilliant  a  hue  that  they  seemed  like  fire.  The  title 
was — "  The  Arts  arid  Powers  of  Magic." 

It  was  nonsense  to  me.  I  was  a  comparatively  un 
educated  boy,  and  I  wondered  what  companionship 
Agmahd  supposed  such  a  book  could  afford  me. 

I  turned  idly  over  its  pages.  They  were  all  unintelli 
gible  to  me,  by  very  reason  even  of  the  words  used, 
apart  from  the  matter.  The  thing  was  ridiculous,  to 
have  sent  me  this  book  to  read.  I  yawned  widely 
over  it,  and  closing  the  book  was  about  to  lie  down 
again  upon  my  couch,  when  I  was  startled  to  observe 
that  I  was  not  alone.  On  the  other  side  of  the  little 
table  whereon  my  book  and  lamp  were,  stood  a  man 
in  a  black  dress.  He  was  looking  earnestly  upon  me, 
but  when  I  returned  his  gaze  he  seemed  to  retreat 
from  me  a  little.  I  wondered  how  he  could  have  en 
tered  so  noiselessly  and  approached  so  near  me  without 
sound. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

AVE  you  any  wish  ?  "  said  the  man  in  a  clear, 
but  very  low  voice. 

I  looked  at  him  in  surprise.  He  was  a 
novice,  it  seemed,  by  his  dress ;  yet  he  spoke 
as  though  he  could  gratify  my  wish — and  that,  too, 
without  the  tone  of  a  mere  servant. 

" I  have  just  taken  food,"  I  answered.  "I  have  no 
wish — but  for  freedom  from  this  room." 

"  That,"  he  answered  quietly,  "  is  soon  gratified. 
Follow  me." 

I  stared  in  astonishment.  This  novice  must  know 
my  position — must  know  of  Agmahd's  will  with  regard 
to  me.  Dare  he  thus  defy  him  ? 

''  No,"  I  answered ;  "  the  high  priests  have  im 
prisoned  me  here  ;  if  I  am  found  escaping  I  shall  be 
punished  1  " 

"  Come ! "  was  all  his  answer.  And  as  he  spoke  he 
raised  one  hand  commandingly.  As  in  physical  pain, 
I  cried  aloud  ;  why,  I  could  not  realize.  Yet  my  sense 
seemed  to  be  that  I  was  held  as  by  a  vice — that  some 
intolerable  power  grasped  my  frame  and  shook  it.  A 
second  after  I  stood  beside  my  mysterious  visitor,  my 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  53 

hand  tight  clasped  in  his.     "  Look  not  back  !  "  he  cried. 
"  Come  with  me." 

And  I  followed  him.  Yet,  at  the  door  I  desired  to 
turn  my  head  to  look ;  and  by  what  seemed  a  great 
effort,  I  did  so. 

Little  marvel  that  he  bade  me  not  look  back  !  Little 
marvel  that  he  strove  to  hurry  me  from  the  room,  for 
when  my  eyes  had  once  turned  I  remained  spellbound, 
gazing — resisting  his  iron  grasp. 

I  saw  myself — or  rather  my  unconscious  form — and 
then,  for  the  first  time,  I  understood  that  my  companion 
was  no  denizen  of  earth — that  I  had  again  entered  the 
land  of  shadows. 

But  this  wonder  was  wholly  swallowed  up  in  a  larger 
one — one  sufficient  to  make  me  strong  against  the  effort 
of  my  companion  to  draw  me  from  the  room. 

Leaning  over  the  couch — standing  behind  it  and 
bending  forward,  in  that  delicious  drooping  attitude  in 
which  I  had  first  seen  her  when  she  stooped  to  drink 
the  water — I  saw  the  Lily  Queen. 

And  I  heard  her  speak.  Her  voice  came  to  me  like 
the  dropping  of  water — like  the  spray  of  a  fountain. 

"Wake,  sleeper — dream  no  more,  nor  remain  within 
this  accursed  spell." 

"  Lady,  I  obey,"  I  murmured,  within  myself,  and 
instantly  a  mist  seemed  to  enwrap  me.  I  was  but  dimly 
conscious — yet  I  knew  that,  in  obedience  to  the  wish 
of  the  beautiful  queen,  I  was  endeavoring  to  return  to 
my  natural  state.  I  succeeded  by  degrees,  and  opened 
my  eyes  wearily  and  heavily,  to  behold  a  desolate  empty 
room.  The  novice  had  left  me — of  that  I  was  glad — 
but,  alas  !  the  Lady  of  the  Lotus  had  left  me  also. 
The  room  seemed  empty  indeed,  and  my  heart  was 


54  THE  IDYLL  OF 

heavy  as  I  looked  around  me.  I  felt  the  sweet  Lady 
of  the  Flower  more  as  a  beautiful  mother  in  my  child 
ish  heart,  than  as  a  queen.  I  yearned  for  her  soft 
presence.  But  it  was  not  there.  I  knew  only  too  well 
that  she  was  not  in  the  room  hidden  from  me.  I  felt 
her  absence  with  my  soul  as  well  as  perceived  it  with 
my  eyes. 

I  raised  myself  languidly  enough,  for,  indeed,  this 
last  struggle  had  out-wearied  me,  and  went  to  the 
corner  behind  my  couch  where  my  dear  flower  was  hid. 
I  drew  back  the  curtain  a  little  way,  to  look  at  my 
treasure.  Alas  !  it  was  already  drooping  its  lovely 
head !  I  sprang  forward  to  assure  myself  that  I  had 
indeed  given  it  water.  Yes,  its  stem  was  deeply 
plunged  in  its  loved  element.  Yet  the  flower  drooped 
like  a  dead  thing,  and  the  stem  bent  inertly  over  the 
edge  of  the  vessel. 

"  My  flower,"  I  cried,  kneeling  down  beside  it,  u  art 
thou  too  gone  ? — am  I  quite  alone  ?  " 

I  took  the  languid  flower-form  from  the  vessel  and 
placed  it  upon  my  breast,  within  my  robe.  And  then, 
wholly  disconsolate  for  the  moment,  I  flung  myself 
again  upon  my  couch  and  closed  my  eyes,  endeavoring 
to  make  them  dark  and  visionless. 

How? — who  knows  the  way  to  hide  visions  from 
the  inner  eye,  that  eye  which  has  the  terrible  gift  of 
sight  which  no  darkness  can  blind?  I  did  not,  then, 
at  all  events. 

The  night  had  descended  on  the  earth,  when  I 
aroused  myself  from  my  long  and  silent  rest.  It  was 
moonlight  without,  and  a  silvery  streak  of  light  entered 
at  the  high  window  and  streamed  into  my  room.  Just 
within  that  streak  of  light  came  the  hem  of  a  white 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  55 

garment;  a  hem  gold-embroidered.  I  knew  the  em 
broidery — I  raised  my  eyes  slowly,  for  I  expected  to 
recognize  Agmahd,  as  indeed  I  did.  He  stood  just 
within  the  dim  shadow ;  but  his  bearing  was  not  easily 
confused  with  that  of  another  man  even  if  his  face 
were  unseen. 

I  lay  perfectly  still ;  yet  he  seemed  immediately  to 
know  that  I  was  awake. 

"  Rise,"  he  said.  I  rose,  and  stood  beside  my  couch, 
with  wide  eyes  of  fear  fixed  upon  him. 

"  Drink  that  which  is  beside  you,"  he  said.  I  looked 
and  saw  a  cup  full  of  red  liquid.  1  drank  it,  blindly 
hoping  it  might  give  me  strength  to  bear  whatever 
ordeal  the  silent  hours  of  this  night  might  be  destined 
to  bring  upon  me.  "Come,"  he  said;  and  I  followed 
him  to  the  door.  I  half  unconsciously  cast  a  glance 
up  to  the  window,  in  the  thought  that  perchance  fresh 
air  and  freedom  lay  before  me.  Suddenly  I  felt 
myself  blinded — quickly  I  put  my  hand  to  my  eyes; 
a  soft  substance  was  bound  over  them.  I  was  silent 
with  the  silence  of  wonder  and  of  fear ;  I  felt  myself 
supported  and  led  onward  carefully.  I  shuddered  as  I 
thought  that  it  must  be  the  arm  of  Agmahd  which  up 
held  me,  but  I  submitted  to  the  contact,  knowing  that 
I  was  powerless  to  resist  it. 

We  moved  onwards  slowly  ;  I  was  conscious  of  leav 
ing  my  own  room  and  of  traversing  some  distance  be 
yond  it,  but  how  far  or  in  what  direction  I  was  unable 
to  guess,  bewildered  as  I  was  by  my  blindfold  state. 

We  paused  in  utter  silence  ;  the  arm  around  me  was 
removed,  and  I  felt  the  bandage  taken  from  my  eyes. 
They  opened  upon  a  darkness  so  complete  that  I  raised 
my  hand  to  assure  myself  that  the  kerchief  was  not 


56  THE  IDYLL  OF 

still  upon  them.  No — they  were  free — they  were 
open — yet  they  gazed  upon  nothing  but  a  blank  wall 
of  deep  and  total  darkness.  My  head  was  full  of  pain 
and  dizziness — the  fumes  of  the  strong  syrup  that  I 
had  drunk  seemed  to  have  filled  it  with  confusion.  I 
remained  motionless,  hoping  to  recover  myself  and 
realize  my  position. 

While  I  waited,  I  suddenly  became  conscious  of  a 
new  presence  close  beside  me.  I  did  not  shrink  from 
it.  I  seemed  to  know  it  to  be  beautiful,  to  be  friendly 
and  glorious.  I  was  thrilled  with  a  yearning,  an  in 
describable  sense  of  leaning  in  spirit  towards  the  un 
known  presence. 

Amid  the  silence  suddenly  came  low,  sweet  speech 
close  to  mine  ear. 

"  Tell  Agmahd  that  he  disobeys  the  law.  One 
priest  alone  may  enter  the  holy  of  holies,  and  no 
more." 

I  recognized  the  liquid  water-like  voice  of  the  Lily 
Queen.  Although  I  was  unaware  of  the  priest's  pres 
ence  I  unhesitatingly  obeyed  my  queen. 

"  One  priest  alone  may  enter  the  holy  of  holies,"  I 
said,  "and  no  more.  Agmahd  being  here  the  law  is 
disobeyed." 

"I  demand  to  hear  the  utterance  of  the  queen," 
came  the  reply  in  the  solemn  tones  of  Agmahd. 

"  Tell  him,"  said  that  other  voice  which  thrilled  my 
soul  and  made  my  frame  vibrate,  "  that  had  I  been 
able  to  reveal  myself  in  his  presence  I  had  not  waited 
for  you." 

I  repeated  her  words.  There  was  no  answer,  but 
I  heard  a  movement — footsteps — and  a  door  closed 
softly. 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  57 

Immediately  a  soft  hand  touched  me.  I  was  simul 
taneously  conscious  of  the  touch,  and  of  a  faint  light 
upon  my  chest.  I  felt  in  a  second  that  the  hand  was 
put  within  my  dress  to  draw  forth  the  withered  lily 
which  I  had  hid  there.  But  I  did  not  attempt  to 
hinder  this,  for,  looking  up  as  a  light  attracted  my 
eyes,  I  beheld  standing  before  me  the  Lily  Queen. 
My  queen,  as  in  my  boyish  heart  I  had  begun  to  call 
her,  I  saw  dimly  and  as  enveloped  in  a  shadowy  mist, 
but  yet  plainly  enough  to  make  me  rejoice  in  her  near 
presence.  And  as  I  looked  I  saw  that  she  held  close 
to  her  bosom  the  withered  flower  which  she  had  taken 
from  mine.  And  I  saw,  wonderingly,  that  it  faded  yet 
more,  grew  dimmer,  and  wholly  vanished.  Yet  I  did 
not  regret  it,  for,  as  it  died  away,  she  grew  more  bright 
and  distinct  to  my  sight.  When  the  flower  had  wholly 
disappeared  she  stood  beside  me,  clear  and  distinct, 
illuminated  by  her  own  radian,ce. 

"  Fear  no  longer,"  she  said ;  "  they  cannot  harm 
thee,  for  thou  hast  entered  within  my  atmosphere. 
And  though  they  have  placed  thee  in  the  very  dungeon 
of  vice  and  falsehood,  have  no  fear,  but  observe  all 
things,  and  remember  what  thine  eyes  perceive." 

The  darkness  appeared  to  become  illumined  by  her 
confident  and  gracious  words.  I  grew  bold  and  full  of 
strength. 

She  held  out  her  hand  and  touched  me  gently.  The 
touch  filled  me  with  a  fire  that  excelled  any  warmth  I 
had  ever  experienced. 

"  The  royal  flower  of  Egypt  dwells  upon  the  sacred 
waters,  which  in  their  purity  and  peace  fitly  form  its 
eternal  resting-place.  I  am  the  spirit  of  the  flower  ; 
1  am  sustained  upon  the  waters  of  truth,  and  my  life 


58  THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 

is  formed  of  the  breath  of  the  heavens,  which  is  love. 
But  the  degradation  of  my  earthly  resting-place,  over 
\vhich  my  wings  of  love  yet  brood,  is  driving  from  it 
the  light  of  heaven,  which  is  wisdom.  Not  long  can 
the  spirit  of  the  royal  lotus  live  in  darkness;  the 
flower  droops  and  dies  if  the  sun  be  withdrawn  from 
it.  Remember  these  words,  child,  grave  them  upon 
your  heart,  for  as  your  mind  becomes  capable  of  grasp 
ing  them,  they  will  enlighten  you  in  many  things." 

"  Tell  me,"  I  said,  "  when  may  I  again  visit  the 
lilies?  Will  you  not  take  me  there  in  to-morrow's 
sunshine  ?  Now  it  is  night,  and  I  am  tired  ;  may  I  not 
sleep  at  your  feet,  and  to-morrow  be  with  you  in  the 
garden  ? " 

"  Poor  child,"  she  said,  stooping  towards  me  so  that 
her  breath  fanned  me,  and  it  was  sweet  like  the  scent 
of  wild  flowers,  "  how  hardly  have  they  taxed  thee  ! 
Rest  here  in  my  arms,  for  thou  art  to  be  my  seer,  and 
the  enlightener  of  my  loved  land.  Strength  and  health 
must  dwell  upon  thy  brow  like  jewels.  I  will  guard 
thee  ;  sleep,  child." 

I  lay  down  at  her  bidding,  and  though  I  knew  that 
I  was  upon  a  cold,  hard  floor,  I  felt  that  my  head 
rested  upon  an  arm  soft  and  full  of  magnetic  soothing; 
and  I  fell  into  deep,  dreamless,  undisturbed  slumber. 

There  was  writ  in  Agmahd's  secret  volume  of  rec 
ords  but  one  word  that  night, — "  Vain." 


CHAPTER  VII. 

WHITE  flower  was  in  my  hand  when  I 
awoke.  Its  beauty  filled  my  heart  with  glad 
ness,  I  looked  on  it  and  was  refreshed  and 
content,  as  though  I  had  slept  in  my  mother's 
arms,  and  this  was  her  kiss  on  my  lips,  for  I  held  the 
flower,  a  half-blown  lotus-blossom,  close  to  my  mouth. 
I  did  not  wonder  at  first  how  I  had  obtained  it,  I  only 
looked  upon  its  beauty  and  was  happy,  for  it  made  me 
know  that  my  queen,  my  one  friend,  did  indeed  guard 
me. 

Suddenly  I  saw  some  one  enter  the  room,  yet  she 
did  not  so  much  enter  it,  as  seem  to  come  out  of  the 
shadow.  I  lay,  as  now  I  saw,  on  the  couch  in  the  room 
to  which  Agmahd  had  brought  me.  I  was  scarcely 
aware  of  how,  or  in  what  place,  I  had  spent  the  dark 
hours  of  the  night,  but  I  felt  that  it  was  in  his  arms  I 
had  been  carried  back  to  my  couch.  I  was  glad  to  be 
there  again,  and  I  was  glad  to  see  this  child  that  ap 
proached  me.  She  was  younger  than  myself,  and 
bright  as  the  sunshine.  She  came  near  to  me,  and 
then  paused  ;  I  put  out  my  hand  to  her. 

59 


60  THE  IDYLL  OF 

"  Give  me  the  flower,"  she  said. 

I  hesitated,  for  the  possession  of  the  flower  made  me 
happy,  but  I  could  not  refuse  her,  for  she  smiled,  and 
none  within  the  temple  had  smiled  on  me  till  now.  I 
gave  her  my  blossom. 

"  Ah !  "  she  cried,  "  there  is  water  on  its  leaves  !  " 
and  she  flung  it  away  from  her  as  if  in  disgust.  I 
started  from  my  couch  in  angry  haste  to  rescue  my 
treasure.  Instantly  the  child  snatched  it  up  again,  and 
fled  from  me  with  a  cry  of  laughter.  I  followed  her 
at  my  utmost  speed.  1  was  only  a  boy,  and  like  a  boy 
I  chased  her,  for  I  was  angry,  and  determined  she 
should  not  win.  We  sped  through  great  rooms  wherein 
we  saw  no  one,  the  child  darting  through  the  great 
curtains,  and  I  following  with  the  swiftness  of  a  lad  of 
the  country.  But  suddenly  I  came  against  what 
seemed  to  me  a  wall  of  solid  stone.  How  was  it  she 
could  have  eluded  me  ?  for  I  was  close  on  her  foot 
steps.  I  turned  back  in  a  passion  of  rage  that  made 
me  blind,  but  I  was  silenced  and  stricken  into  quiet, 
for  the  priest  Agmahd  stood  before  me.  Had  I  done 
wrong?  It  could  not  be,  for  he  was  smiling. 

"  Come  with  me,"  he  said  ;  and  spoke  so  gently  that 
I  did  not  fear  to  follow  him.  He  opened  a  door,  and 
I  saw  before  my  eyes  a  garden  full  of  flowers,  a  square 
garden  enclosed  in  hedges,  thickly  covered  too  with 
flowers,  and  this  garden  was  full  of  children,  all  run 
ning  hither  and  thither  as  swiftly  as  possible,  in  the  in 
tricacies  of  some  game  I  did  not  understand.  There 
were  so  many,  and  they  moved  so  swiftly,  that  at  first 
I  was  bewildered,  but  suddenly  I  saw  the  child  among 
them  who  had  taken  my  flower.  She  wore  it  on  her 
dress,  and  she  smiled  in  mockery  as  she  saw  me.  I 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  Gl 

plunged  into  the  crowd  immediately,  and  seemed, 
though  I  knew  not  how,  at  once  to  obey  the  laws  of 
the  game  or  dance.  I  scarce  knew  which  it  was,  for 
though  I  moved  rightly  among  them,  I  could  not  tell 
what  object  they  had  in  pursuit.  I  followed,  and 
chased  the  figure  of  the  girl.  Although  I  did  not  suc 
ceed  in  approaching  her,  so  swift  was  she,  yet  I  grew 
quickly  to  enjoy  the  motion,  the  excitement,  the  merry 
faces,  and  laughing  voices.  The  scent  of  the  innumer 
able  flowers  filled  me  with  delight,  and  I  became  pas 
sionately  desirous  to  possess  myself  of  some  of  them. 
I  forgot  the  lotus  blossom  in  thinking  of  these  others, 
and  yet  I  hurried  on  in  the  maze  of  the  dance,  prom 
ising  myself  a  great  cluster  of  flowers  when  the  dance 
ceased ;  at  that  moment  I  did  not  fear  Agmahd  or  his 
displeasure,  even  if  this  garden  were  his.  Then  sud 
denly  I  heard  a  shout  of  a  hundred  gay  children's 
voices. 

"  He  has  won  it !     He  has  won  it !  " 

It  was  a  ball,  a  golden  ball,  and  light,  so  light,  that 
I  could  throw  it  far,  far  up  in  the  sky ;  yet  it  always 
return  to  my  uplifted  hands.  I  had  found  it  at  my 
feet  when  I  heard  the  others  shout,  and  immediately  I 
knew  the  ball  was  mine.  Now,  I  saw  there  was  no 
one  near  me  but  the  child  who  had  taken  my  lotus 
flower.  It  was  not  on  her  dress  now,  and  I  had  for 
gotten  it.  But  she  was  smiling,  and  I  laughed  to  see 
her.  I  threw  her  the  ball,  and  she  threw  it  back  to 
me,  from  one  end  of  the  garden  to  the  other. 

Suddenly  a  bell  rang  out  clear  and  loud  in  the  air. 
"  Come,"  she  said ;  "  it  is  school-time,  come."  She  caught 
my  hand  and  threw  the  ball  away.  I  looked  longingly 
after  it. 


62  THE  IDYLL  OF 

"  That  was  mine,"  I  said. 

"  It  is  no  use  now,"  she  answered.  "You  must  gain 
another  prize." 

We  ran  away,  hand  in  hand,  through  another  garden 
into  a  great  room  which  I  had  not  seen  before.  The 
children  with  whom  I  had  played  were  here  and  a  great 
many  more.  The  air  was  heavy  and  sweet  in  this  room. 
I  was  not  tired,  for  I  had  but  just  risen  from  my  long 
sleep  and  the  morning  was  yet  fresh,  but  now  that  I 
entered  this  room  I  felt  weary  and  my  head  burned. 

Very  soon  I  fell  asleep,  hearing  the  children's  voices 
round  me.  When  I  awoke  it  was  to  hear  a  shout  like 
that  in  the  garden.  "  He  has  won  it !  He  has  wou 
it!" 

I  stood  upon  a  kind  of  throne — a  lofty  seat  of  marble. 
And  I  could  hear  my  own  voice  in  the  air.  I  had  been 
speaking.  The  children  were  round  me,  but  they  were 
clustered  upon  and  about  the  marble  seat.  I  remembered 
that  the  child  who  brought  me  here  had  said  the  teacher 
stood  upon  this  throne.  Why  then,  were  we,  the  children, 
here?  I  looked,  and  lo,  I  saw  that  the  room  was  full 
of  priests !  They  stood  in  the  place  of  the  taught. 
They  stood  silent,  immovable.  Again  I  heard  the 
children  cry,  "  He  has  won  it !  He  has  won  it ! "  I 
sprang  from  the  throne  in  a  sudden  frenzy,  I  knew  not 
why.  As  I  stood  upon  the  ground  I  looked  and  saw 
that  the  children  were  gone.  I  could  not  see  any  one 
of  them  but  the  child  who  had  brought  me  here.  She 
was  standing  on  the  throne,  and  she  laughed  and  clap 
ped  her  hands  with  glee.  I  wondered  what  it  was  that 
pleased  her,  and  looking  down  I  saw  that  I  stood  in  a 
circle  of  white  robed  priests  who  had  prostrated  them 
selves  until  their  foreheads  touched  the  ground.  What 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  63 

did  this  mean  ?  I  could  not  guess,  and  stood  still  iu 
terror,  when  suddenly  the  child  cried  out  as  if  in  answer 
to  my  thought,  "  They  worship  you  !  " 

My  wonder  at  her  words  was  not  greater  than  another 
wonder  which  fell  on  me.  For  I  understood  that  I 
alone  heard  her  voice. 


64 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

WAS  taken  back  to  my  own  room,  and  there 
the  young  priests  brought  me  food.  I  was 
hungry,  for  I  had  not  broken  my  fast,  and 
I  found  the  food  exquisite.  The  young 
priests  who  brought  it  to  me  fell  on  one  knee  when  they 
offered  it ;  I  looked  wonderingly  at  them,  for  I  could 
not  guess  why  they  should  do  so.  Many  of  them  came 
with  fruits  and  rich  syrup  and  delicate  sweetmeats, 
such  as  I  had  never  seen,  and  with  flowers.  Great 
clusters  of  flowers  were  brought  and  placed  near  me, 
and  bushes  covered  with  blossoms  were  put  against  the 
wall.  I  cried  out  with  pleasure  to  see  them,  and  as  I 
cried  out  I  saw  Agmahd  standing  within  the  shadow  of 
the  curtain.  His  eyes  were  on  me,  cold  and  srnileless. 
Yet  I  did  not  fear  him  now  ;  I  was  full  of  a  new  spirit 
of  pleasure,  which  made  me  bold.  I  went  from  flower 
to  flower,  kissing  the  blossoms.  Their  scent  filled  all 
the  room  with  its  richness.  I  was  glad  and  proud,  for 
I  felt  as  if  I  need  no  longer  be  afraid  of  this  cold  priest, 
who  stood  motionless  as  though  cut  in  marble.  This 
sensation  of  fearlessness  lifted  a  weight  of  agony  from 
my  childish  soul. 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  65 

He  turned  and  vanished,  and  as  he  passed  under  the 
curtain  I  sa\v  the  child  at  my  side. 

"  See,"  she  said,  "  I  brought  you  these  flowers." 

"  You  !  "  I  exclaimed. 

"  Yes,  I  told  them  you  loved  flowers.  And  these 
are  strong  and  sweet  ;  they  grow  in  the  earth.  Are 
you  tired,  or  shall  we  go  out  and  play  ?  Do  you  know 
that  garden  is  our  own,  and  the  ball  is  there  ?  Some 
one  took  it  back  for  you." 

"  Tell  me,"  I  said,  "  why  the  priests  kneel  to  me 
to-day." 

"  Do  you  not  know  ?  "  she  said,  looking  at  me  curi 
ously.  "It  is  because  you  taught  from  the  throne  to 
day,  and  spoke  wise  words  they  understood,  but  we 
could  not.  But  we  saw  you  had  won  a  great  prize. 
You  will  win  all  the  prizes." 

I  sat  down  upon  my  couch,  and  held  my  head  with 
my  hands  and  looked  at  her  in  wonder. 

"But  how  could  I  do  that  and  not  know  it?"  I 
demanded. 

"You  will  be  great  when  you  do  not  struggle,  when 
you  do  not  know  it  you  will  win  all  the  prizes.  If  you 
are  quiet  and  happy  }rou  will  be  worshipped  by  all  these 
priests,  even  the  most  splendid." 

I  was  dumb  with  wonder  for  a  moment,  then  I  said — 

"  You  are  very  little.    How  can  you  know  all  this  ?  " 

"  The  flowers  told  me,"  she  said  with  a  laugh.  "  They 
are  your  friends.  But  it  is  all  true.  Now  come  and 
play  with  me." 

"Not yet,"  I  said.  And  indeed  I  felt  my  head  was 
hot  and  heavy,  and  my  heart  filled  with  wonder.  I 
could  not  understand  her  words. 


66  THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 

"  It  is  impossible  I  can  have  taught  from  the  throne," 
I  exclaimed. 

"  You  did !  and  the  high  priests  bowed  their  awful 
faces  before  you.  For  you  told  them  how  to  perform 
some  strange  ceremony  where  you  would  be  in  the 
midst." 

"  I ! " 

"Yes,  for  you  told  them  of  what  should  be  your  dress, 
and  how  to  prepare  it,  and  what  words  to  utter,  as  they 
placed  it  on  you." 

I  watched  her  with  passionate  interest.  "  Can  you 
tell  me  more?"  I  cried,  when  she  ceased. 

"  You  are  to  live  among  earth-fed  flowers,  and  to 
dance  with  the  children  often.  Oh,  there  were  many 
things.  But  of  the  ceremony  I  cannot  remember.  But 
you  will  soon  see,  for  it  is  to  be  to-night." 

I  started  from  my  couch  in  a  sudden  frenzy  of  fear. 

"  Do  not  be  afraid,"  she  said  with  a  laugh.  "  For  I 
am  to  be  with  you.  That  makes  me  glad,  for  I  belong 
to  the  temple,  yet  have  I  never  been  admitted  to  one  of 
the  sacred  ceremonies." 

"  You  belong  to  the  temple  !  But  they  cannot  hear 
your  voice !  " 

"  Sometimes  they  cannot  see  me  !  "  she  said,  laughing, 
"  only  Agmahd  can  always  see  me,  for  I  am  his.  But 
I  cannot  talk  to  him.  I  like  you  because  I  can  talk  to 
you.  Come,  let  us  go  out  and  play.  The  flowers  in  the 
garden  are  as  sweet  as  these,  and  the  ball  is  there. 
Come." 

She  took  my  hand  and  went  quickly  away.  I  let 
her  lead  me,  for  I  was  lost  in  thought.  But  outside  the 
air  was  so  rich  and  sweet,  the  flowers  so  bright,  the  sun 
so  warm,  that  soon  I  forgot  my  thoughts  in  happiness. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

jjT  was  night.  I  was  sleepy  and  content, 
for  I  had  been  happy  and  amused,  running 
hither  and  thither  in  the  sweet-scented  air. 
All  the  evening  I  had  slept  on  my  coucli 
among  the  flowers  that  made  my  room  fragrant,  and  1 
dreamed  strange  dreams  in  which  each  flower  became 
a  laughing  face,  and  my  ears  were  full  of  the  sound  of 
magic  voices.  I  awoke  suddenly  and  fancied  I  must 
be  still  dreaming,  for  the  moonlight  came  into  my 
room  and  fell  upon  the  beautiful  blossoms.  And  I 
thought  with  wonder  of  the  simple  home  1  had  been 
reared  in.  How  had  I  ever  endured  it?  For  now  it 
seemed  to  me  that  beauty  was  life. 
I  was  very  happy. 

As  I  lay  dreamily  looking  at  the  moonlight,  the 
door  in  the  corridor  was  suddenly  opened  from  with 
out.  The  corridor  was  full  of  light,  such  brilliant  light 
that  the  moonlight  seemed  like  darkness,  and  I  was 
blinded.  Then  a  number  of  neophytes  entered  my 
room,  bringing  with  them  some  things  that  I  could  not 
see,  because  of  the  strong  light.  Then  they  went  away 
and  closed  the  door,  leaving  me  alone  in  the  moonlight, 
with  two  tall,  white-robed,  motionless  forms.  I  knew 


63  THE  IDYLL  OF 

who  was  with  me  though  I  dared  not  look — it  was 
Agmahd  and  Kamen  Baka. 

At  first  I  trembled,  bat  suddenly  I  saw  the  child 
glide  forth  from  the  shadow,  her  finger  on  her  lips  and 
a  smile  on  her  face. 

-Do  not  be  afraid,"  she  said.  "They  are  going  to 
put  on  you  the  beautiful  robe  you  told  them  to  pre 
pare." 

I  rose  from  my  couch  and  looked  at  the  priests.  I 
was  no  longer  afraid.  Agmahd  stood  motionless,  iiis 
eyes  fixed  on  me.  Tiie  other  approached  me.  holding 
in  his  hands  a  white  robe.  It  was  of  fine  linen  and 
covered  with  rich  gold  embroidery,  which  I  saw  formed 
characters  I  could  not  understand.  It  was  more  beau 
tiful  than  Agmahd's  robe — and  I  had  never  seen  any 
thing  so  beautiful  as  thi.t  when  I  entered  the  temple. 

I  was  pleased,  and  held  out  my  hand  for  the  robe. 
Kamen  came  close  to  me,  and  when  I  flung  aside  the 
one  I  wore,  put  this  upon  me  with  his  own  hands. 

It  was  steeped  with  a  subtle  perfume,  which  I  in 
haled  with  delight.  This  seemed  to  me  a  royal  robe  ! 

Kamen  advanced  to  the  door  and  opened  it.  The 
brilliant  light  streamed  in  full  upon  me.  Agmahd 
remained  standing  motionless,  his  eyes  fixed  on  me. 

The  child  looked  upon  me  with  admiration,  a:id 
clapped  her  hands  in  delight.  Then  she  held  out  one 
hand  and  took  mine.  "  Come."  she  said.  I  yielded, 
and  together  we  went  into  the  corridor.  Agmahd  close 
behind  us.  The  scene  we  entered  startled  me,  and  I 
paused.  The  great  corridor  was  full  of  priests,  save 
just  where  I  stood,  close  to  the  door  of  the  holy  of 
belies.  Here  a  large  space  was  left,  and  in  this  space 
stood  a  couch  covered  with  silken  drapery,  embroidered 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  69 

with  gold,  in  characters  resembling  those  upon  my 
dress.  About  the  couch  was  a  bank  or  hedge  of  sweet- 
smelling  flowers,  and  all  around  the  ground  was  strewn 
with  plucked  blossoms.  I  shrank  from  the  great 
crowd  of  motionless  white-robed  priests,  whose  eyes 
were  fixed  on  me,  but  the  beautiful  colors  pleased  me. 

"  This  couch  is  for  us,"  said  the  child,  and  led  me  to 
it.  No  one  else  spoke  or  moved,  and  I  obeyed  her. 
We  advanced,  and  upon  the  couch  found  our  golden 
ball  with  which  we  had  played  in  the  garden.  I  looked 
in  a  sudden  wonder  to  see  if  Agmahd  watched  us.  He 
stood  by  the  door  of  the  holy  of  holies ;  his  eyes  were 
on  me.  Kamen  stood  nearer  to  us,  and  he  was  gazing 
at  the  closed  door  of  the  sanctuary,  and  his  lips  were 
moving  as  if  he  were  repeating  words.  No  one  seemed 
angry  with  us,  so  I  looked  back  at  the  child.  She 
snatched  up  the  ball  and  sprang  to  one  end  of  the  great 
couch ;  I  could  not  resist  her  gaiety  ;  I  sprang  to  the 
other  end  of  the  couch,  and  laughed  too.  She  flung 
me  the  ball ;  I  caught  it  in  my  hands,  but  before  I 
could  throw  it  back  to  her,  the  corridor  was  plunged 
into  complete  profound  darkness.  For  a  moment  my 
breath  died  away  in  the  sudden  agony  of  fear,  but 
suddenly  I  found  that  I  could  see  the  child,  and  that 
she  was  laughing.  I  flung  her  the  ball,  and  she  caught 
it,  and  laughed  again.  I  looked  around,  and  saw  that 
all  else  was  black  darkness.  I  thought  of  the  awful 
figure  I  had  seen  before  in  the  darkness,  and  I  must 
have  cried  aloud  with  fear  but  for  the  child.  She  came 
to  me  and  put  her  hand  in  mine. 

"Are  you  afraid?  "  she  said;  "I  am  not.  And  you 
need  not  fear.  They  would  not  harm  you,  for  they 
worship  you ! " 


70  THE  IDYLL  OF 

While  she  spoke,  I  heard  music — gay,  wonderful 
music — that  made  my  heart  beat  fast  and  my  feet  long 
to  dance. 

A  moment  later  and  T  saw  the  light  come  round  the 
sanctuary  door,  and  the  door  open.  Was  that  awful 
figure  coming  forth?  My  limbs  shook  at  the  thought, 
but  yet  I  did  not  lose  all  courage  as  before.  The 

*/  o 

child's  presence  and  the  gay  music  kept  from  me  the 
horror  of  solitude.  The  child  rose,  holding  my  hand  in 
hers.  We  approached  the  sanctuary  door.  I  was 
unwilling,  yet  I  could  not  resist  the  guidance  which 
led  me  on.  We  entered  the  door,  and  as  we  did  so 
the  music  ceased.  Ail  was  still  again.  But  there  was 
a  faint  light  within  the  sanctuary  which  seemed  to 
come  from  the  far  end  of  the  chamber.  The  child  led 
me  towards  this  light.  She  was  with  me,  and  I  was 
not  afraid.  At  the  end  of  the  chamber  was  a  small 
inner  room,  or  recess,  cut,  as  I  could  see,  in  the  rock. 
I  could  see  this,  for  there  was  enough  light  here.  A 
woman  sat  on  a  low  seat,  her  head  bent  over  a  great 
book,  which  she  held  open  on  her  knee.  My  eyes  were 
riveted  to  her  instantly,  and  I  could  not  remove  them. 
I  knew  her,  and  the  heart  within  me  shuddered  at  the 
thought  that  she  would  raise  her  head,  and  I  should 
see  her  face. 

Suddenly  I  knew  my  companion,  the  child,  was  gone. 
I  did  not  look  to  see,  for  my  eyes  were  held  by  a 
supreme  fascination,  but  I  felt  my  hand  had  "no  answer 
ing  clasp.  I  knew  her  presence  was  gone. 

I  waited,  standing  still  as  one  of  those  figures  carved 
in  the  avenue  of  the  temple. 

At  last  she  lifted  her  head  and  looked  at  me.  My 
blood  shivered  and  grew  cold.  It  seemed  to  myself 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  71 

that  I  froze,  for  those  eyes  cut  like  steel,  yet  I  could 
not  resist  or  turn  away,  or  even  hide  my  eyes  from  that 
awful  sight. 

"  You  have  come  to  me  to  learn.  Well,  I  will  teach 
you,"  she  said,  and  her  voice  sounded  low  and  sweet 
like  the  soft  tones  of  a  musical  instrument.  "  You  love 
beautiful  things  and  flowers.  You  will  be  a  great  artist 
if  you  live  for  beauty  alone,  but  you  must  be  more  than 
that."  She  held  out  her  hand  to  me,  and,  against  my 
will,  I  lifted  mine,  and  gave  it  her.  but  she  barely 
touched  it;  at  the  touch  my  hand  was  suddenly  full  of 
roses,  and  all  the  place  was  filled  with  their  seen;;-.  She 
laughed,  and  the  sound  was  musical ;  I  suppose  my 
face  pleased  her. 

"  Come  now,"  she  said,  "  and  stand  nearer  me,  for 
}^ou  no  longer  fear  me."  With  my  eyes  upon  the 
roses,  I  approached  her ;  they  held  my  sight,  and  I  did 
not  fear  her  when  I  did  not  see  her  face. 

She  put  her  arm  round  me  and  drew  me  close  to  her 
side.  Suddenly  1  saw  that  the  dark  robe  she  wore  was 
no  garment  of  linen  or  cloth — it  was  alive — it  was  a 
drapery  of  coiling  snakes,  who  clung  about  her  and 
made  folds  that  had  seemed  to  me  like  soft  hanging 
draperies  when  I  stood  a  little  away  from  her.  Now 
terror  overcame  me  ;  I  tried  to  ccream  but  could  not,  I 
tried  to  fly  from  her  but  could  net.  She  laughed 
again,  but  this  time  her  laugh  was  harsh.  But  while  I 
looked  all  was  changed,  and  her  robe  was  dark — dark 
still  but  not  alive.  I  stood  breathless,  wondering  and 
cold  with  fear — her  arm  was  still  about  me  !  She  raised 
her  other  hand  and  placed  it  on  my  forehead.  Then 
fear  left  me  altogether  ;  I  seemed  happy  and  quiet.  My 
eyes  were  shut,  although  I  saw ;  I  was  conscious,  yet  I 


72  THE  IDYLL  OF 

did  not  desire  to  move.  She  rose,  and  lifting  me  in 
her  arms,  placed  me  on  the  lo\v  stone  seat  where  she 
had  herself  been  sitting.  My  head  fell  back  against 
the  wall  of  rock  behind  me.  I  was  dumb  and  still,  but 
I  could  see. 

She  rose  up  to  her  full  height  and  stretched  her  arms 
aloft  above  her  head,  and  again  I  saw  the  serpents. 
They  were  vigorous  and  full  of  life.  They  were  not 
only  her  dress  but  they  were  about  her  head.  I  could 
not  tell  if  they  were  her  hair  or  if  they  were  in  it.  She 
clasped  her  hands  high  above  her  head,  and  the  terrible 
creatures  hung  wreathing  from  her  arms.  But  I  was 
not  afraid.  Fear  seemed  to  have  left  me  forever. 

Suddenly  I  became  aware  that  there  was  another 
presence  in  the  sanctuary.  Agmahd  was  there,  stand 
ing  at  the  door  of  the  inner  cavern. 

I  looked  in  wonder  at  his  face,  it  was  so  still ;  the 
eyes  were  unseeing.  Then  I  knew  suddenly  that  they 
were  in  very  fact  unseeing ;  that  this  figure,  this  light, 
I  myself,  were  all  invisible  to  him. 

She  turned  to  me,  or  leaned  towards  me,  so  that  I 
saw  her  face,  and  her  eyes  were  on  mine ;  otherwise 
she  did  not  move.  Those  eyes  that  cut  like  steel  no 
longer  filled  me  with  terror,  but  they  held  me  with  a 
grasp  as  of  some  iron  instrument.  While  I  watched 
her,  suddenly  I  saw  the  serpents  change  and  vanish ; 
they  became  long  sinuous  folds  of  some  soft  gray 
gleaming  garment,  and  their  hotels  and  terrible  eyes 
changed  into  starry  groups  of  roses.  And  a  rich  strong 
scent  of  roses  filled  the  sanctuary.  Then  I  saw  Agmahd 
smile.  % 

"  My  Queen  is  here,"  he  said. 

"  Your  Queen  is  here,"  I  said,  and  did  not  know  I 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  73 

had  spoken  till  I  heard  my  own  voice.  "She  waits  to 
know  your  desire." 

"  Tell  me,"  he  said,  "  what  is  her  robe  ?  " 

I  answered,  "It  shines  and  gleams,  and  on  her 
shoulders  are  roses." 

"  I  do  not  desire  pleasure,"  he  said  ;  "  my  soul  is 
sick  of  it.  But  1  demand  power." 

Until  now  her  eyes  fixed  on  mine  had  told  me  what 
to  speak ;  but  now  I  heard  her  voice  again. 

"  In  the  temple  ?  " 

And  I  repeated  her  words,  unconscious  that  I  did  so 
till  I  caught  the  echo  of  my  voice. 

"  No,"  answered  Agmahd  contemptuously.  "  I  must 
go  outside  these  walls,  and  mix  with  men,  and  work  my 
will  among  them.  I  demand  the  power  to  do  this.  It 
was  premised  to  me  ;  that  promise  has  not  been  ful 
filled." 

"  Because  you  lacked  the  courage  and  the  strength 
to  compel  its  fulfilment." 

"  I  lack  those  no  longer,"  answered  Agmahd,  and  for 
the  first  time  I  saw  his  face  flame  with  passion. 

"Then  utter  the  fatal  words,"  she  said. 

Agmahd's  face  changed.  He  stood  still  for  some 
moments,  and  his  face  grew  colder  and  more  stony  than 
any  carven  form. 

"  I  renounce  my  humanity,"  he  said  at  last,  uttering 
the  words  slowly,  so  that  they  appeared  to  pause  and 
rest  upon  the  air. 

"It  is  well,"  she  said.  "But  you  cannot  stand 
alone.  You  must  bring  me  others  ready  like  yourself 
to  brave  all  and  know  all.  I  must  have  twelve  sworn 
servants.  Get  me  these,  and  you  shall  have  your 
desire." 


74  THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 

"Are  the}f  to  be  ray  equals?"  demanded  Agmahd. 

"  In  desire  and  in  courage,  yes ;  in  power,  no ;  be 
cause  each  will  have  a  different  desire  ;  thus  will  their 
service  be  acceptable  to  me." 

Agmahd  paused  a  moment.  Then  he  said,  "  I  obey 
my  Queen.  But  I  must  be  aided  in  so  difficult  a  task. 
How  shall  I  tempt  them  ?  " 

At  these  words  she  flung  out  her  arms,  opening  and 
shutting  her  hands  with  a  strange  gesture,  which  J 
could  not  understand.  Her  eyes  gleamed  like  hoi 
coals,  and  then  grew  cold  and  dull. 

"I  will  direct  you,"  she  answered.  "Be  faithful  to 
my  orders  and  you  need  not  fear.  Only  obey  me  and 
you  shall  succeed.  You  have  every  element  within 
this  temple.  There  are  ten  priests  ready  to  our  hand. 
They  are  full  of  hunger.  I  will  satisfy  them.  You  I 
will  satisfy  when  your  courage  and  steadfastness  is 
proved — not  until  then,  for  you  demand  much  more 
than  these  others." 

"  And  who  shall  be  the  one  to  complete  the  number?  " 
.isked  Agmahd. 

She  turned  her  eyes  again  upon  me. 

"  This  child,"  she  answered.  "  He  is  mine — my 
chosen  and  favorite  servant.  I  will  teach  him :  and 
through  him  I  will  teach  you/' 


CHAPTER  X. 

1ELL  Kamen  Baka  that  I  know  his  heart's 
desire,  and  that  he  shall  have  it,  but  that 
he  must  first  pronounce  the  fatal  words." 
Ajjmahd  bowed  his  head  and  turned 

o 

away.     He  silently  left  the  sanctuary. 

I  was  again  alone  with  her.  She  approached  me  and 
fastened  her  terrible  eyes  on  mine. 

While  I  gazed  at  her  .she  vanished  from  before  me, 
and  in  her  place  was  a  golden  light  which  gradually 
shaped  itself  into  a  form  more  beautiful  than  any  I  had 
ever  seen. 

It  was  a  tree  full  of  foliage  that  hung  soft  like  hair 
rather  than  leaves,  and  on  each  branch  was  a  multitude 
of  flowers  growing  in  thick  clusters,  and  among  the 
flowers  were  a  number  of  birds  all  golden  and  gay  with 
brilliant  colors,  and  they  darted  hither  and  thither 
among  the  glowing  blossoms,  till  my  eyes  grew  dazzled, 
and  I  cried  aloud,  "  Oh  give  me  one  of  these  little 
birds  for  my  own,  that  it  may  come  to.  me  and  nestle 
as  it  does  in  those  flowers." 

"  You  shall  have  a  hundred  of  them,  and  they  will 
so  love  you  they  will  kiss  your  mouth  and  take  food 


76  THE  IDYLL  OF 

from  your  lips.  By-and-by  you  shall  have  a  garden  in 
which  a  tree  like  this  shall  grow,  and  all  the  birds  of 
the  air  will  love  you.  But  first  you  must  do  ray 
bidding.  Speak  to  Kumeu  and  bid  him  enter  the 
sanctuary." 

"  Enter,"  I  said,  "  the  priest  Kamen  Baka  shall 
enter." 

He  came  and  stood  within  the  doorway  of  the  inner 
cavern.  The  tree  had  vanished,  and  I  saw  before  me 
the  dark  figure  with  its  shining  flowing  robes  and  cruel 
eyes  ;  they  were  fixed  on  the  priest. 

"  Tell  him,"  she  said  slowly,  "  that  his  heart's  hunger 
shall  be  satisfied.  He  desires  love  ! — he  shall  have  it. 
The  priests  of  the  temple  have  turned  cold  faces 
towards  him,  and  he  feels  that  their  hearts  are  as 
stone.  He  wants  to  see  them  on  their  knees  around 
him,  adoring  him,  willing  slaves.  He  shall  have 
it;  for  he  shall  take  upon  him  this  office,  which 
until  now  has  been  mine.  He  shall  gratify  their  heart's 
lust,  and  in  return  they  will  put  him  alone  upon  a 
pedestal  above  all  but  myself.  Is  the  bribe  great 
enough?  " 

She  said  these  words  in  a  tone  of  intense  contempt, 
and  I  could  read  in  her  terrible  face  that  she  despised 
him  for  the  narrow  limit  of  his  ambition.  But  the 
sting  left  the  words  as  I  repeated  them. 

Kamen  bowed  his  head,  and  a  strange  glow  of  exul 
tation  came  upon  his  face. 

"  It  is,"  he  said. 

"  Then  pronounce  the  fatal  words!  " 

Kamen  Baka  fell  upon  his  knees  and  flung  his  hands 
high  above  his  head.  The  look  in  his  face  changed  to 
one  of  agony. 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  77 

"  From  henceforward,  though  all  men  love  me,  I 
love  no  man  !  " 

The  dark  figure  swept  towards  him  and  touched  his 
head  with  her  hand.  "  You  are  mine,"  she  said,  and 
turned  away,  a  smile  that  was  dark  and  cold  like  a 
northern  frost  upon  her  face.  She  gave  me  the  idea 
of  a  teacher  and  a  guide  with  Kamen  ;  to  Agmahd  she 
had  rather  spoken  as  a  queen  might  to  her  chief 
favorite,  one  whom  she  values  and  fears  at  once  ;  one 
who  has  strength. 

"  Now,  child,  there  is  work  to  do,"  she  said,  approach 
ing  me.  "  This  book  has  written  in  it  the  hearts  of 
the  priests  who  shall  be  my  servants.  Thou  art  weary 
and  must  rest,  for  I  will  not  that  they  injure  thee. 
Thou  must  grow  to  a  strong  man  worthy  of  my  favor. 
But  carry  the  book  witli  thee  in  thy  arms  ;  and  as  soon 
as  thou  shalt  wake  in  the  early  morn  Kamen  shall  come 
to  thee,  and  thou  shalt  j'ead  to  him  the  first  page  of 
this  volume.  When  he  has  succeeded  in  accomplish 
ing  the  first  task,  then  he  shall  again  come  to  thee  at 
early  morn,  and  thou  shalt  read,  to  him  the  second  ; 
and  in  this  way  the  book  will  be  finished.  Tell  him 
this  ;  and  bid  him  not  despair  at  any  time,  because 
of  difficulties.  With  each  difficulty  surmounted  his 
power  will  increase,  and  when  all  is  done  he  will  stand 
supreme." 

I  repeated  these  words  to  Kamen.  He  was  standing 
now  at  the  doorway,  his  hands  clasped  in  front  of  him, 
and  his  head  drooped  low,  so  that  I  could  not  see  his 
face.  But  as  I  ceased,  he  raised  his  head,  and  said, 
"  I  obey." 

His  face  wore  still  the  strange  gleam  which  I  had 
seen  on  it  before. 


78 


TUE  WHITE  LOTUS. 


u  Bid  him  go,"  she  said,  "  and  he  is  to  send  Agmahd 
hither." 

When  I  repeated  this,  he  quietly  withdrew;  and  I 
could  see  by  his  movements  that  the  place  to  his  eyes 
was  all  darkness. 

A  moment  later  and  Agmahd  stood  in  the  doorway. 

She  approached  him  and  laid  her  hand  upon  his  fore 
head.  Immediately  I  saw  a  crown  there ;  and  Agmahd 
smiled. 

"  It  shall  be  yours,"  she  said.  "•  Say  this  to  Agmahd  ; 
it  is  the  greatest  crown  but  one  upon  the  earth  ;  and 
that  greater  one  he  would  not  wear.  Now  bid  him 
carry  thee  in  his  arms  and  la}'  thee  on  thy  couch.  But 
thou  clasp  tight  the  book.'1 

While  I  was  repeating  her  words,  she  came  to  me  and 
touched  my  forehead.  A  deep  delicious  languor  came 
upon  me,  and  I  thought  the  words  faded  on  my  lips. 
But  I  could  not  say  them  again  ;  all  had  vanished.  I 
was  asleep. 


CHAPTER  XL 

awoke  it  was  broad  daylight ;  and  I  felt 
that  I  had  slept  a  long  deep  sleep.  My  room 
was  like  a  garden,  it  was  so  full  of  flowers. 
My  eyes  wandered  around  them  in  pleasure, 
but  presently  lighted  on  an  object  which  kept  them 
fixed.  It  was  a  kneeling  figure  in  the  midst  of  the 
room  ;  a  priest  whose  head  was  bowed  low  ;  but  I  knew 
it  was  Kamen  Baka.  I  moved,  and  at  the  slight  sound 
I  made  he  raised  his  head  and  looked  towards  me.  In 
moving,  I  found  that  the  book  lay  beside  me  open.  My 
eyes  became  fastened  to  the  page.  I  saw  words  that 
shone,  and  unconsciously  I  read  them  aloud.  I  ceased 
at  last,  because  no  more  was  writ  in  plain  language,  but 
all  was  hieroglyphics. 

Kamen  Baka  started  to  his  feet.  I  looked  at  him,  and 
saw  his  face  was  all  alight  with  what  seemed  like  wild 
exultation. 

"  He  shall  kiss  my  feet  to  day,"  he  cried  out.  Then 
observing  my  wondering  gaze,  he  said,  "  Have  you  read 
all?" 

"  All  that  I  can  understand,"  I  answered.    "  The  rest 

is  in  strange  characters  that  I  do  not  know." 

79 


80  THE  IDYLL  OF 

He  turned  instantly  and  left  my  chamber.  I  looked 
back  at  the  page  of  the  book  which  I  had  read  to  see 
what  were  the  words  which  had  so  strangely  excited 
him.  They  were  now  no  longer  intelligible  to  me — 
they  too  were  writ  in  hieroglyphics — and  I  gazed  at  them 
in  despair,  for  now  I  found  I  could  remember  no  word 
of  what  I  had  read.  I  grew  weary  with  puzzling  over 
this  strange  thing,  and  at  last  I  fell  asleep  again,  my 
head  upon  the  open  pages  of  the  mystic  book.  I  did 
not  rouse  from  the  deep  dreamless  sleep  in  which  I  was, 
until  a  sound  startled  me.  Two  young  priests  were  in 
my  room  ;  they  carried  cakes  and  milk,  and  fell  upon 
their  knees  to  offer  me  the  food.  I  was  afraid,  or  I 
should  have  laughed  to  see  them  thus  kneeling  to  me,  a 
boy  of  the  country.  When  I  had  eaten,  they  left  me, 
but  I  was  not  long  alone.  The  curtain  lifted,  and  at 
the  sight  of  one  who  entered,  I  sprang  to  my  feet  and 
laughed  with  pleasure.  It  was  Seboua,  the  gardener. 

"How  is  it  you  have  come  to  me?"  I  asked.  '•  I 
thought  indeed  I  was  never  to  see  you  again." 

"  Agmahd  sent  me  here,"  he  said. 

"  Agmahd  !  "  I  ciied  in  amazement.  I  approached 
him  and  pressed  his  arm  between  my  hands. 

"  Oh  yes,  I  am  real,"  he  answered.  "•  They  cannot 
make  a  phantom  of  me.  Do  not  doubt  when  you  see 
me  it  is  I  myself." 

He  spoke  angrily  and  roughly,  and  for  a  moment  I 
was  afraid,  but  not  for  long.  The  strange  smile  came 
on  his  ugly  face. 

"  Yon  are  to  come  with  me  into  the  garden."  he  said, 
and  held  out  his  dark  large  hand.  I  put  mine  in  it,  and 
together  we  left  my  room  and  went  quickly  away 
tlirough  the  large  empty  chambers  and  long  passages  of 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  81 

the  temple  till  we  reached  that  narrow  iron  gateway 
through  which  I  had  first  seen  Seboua'sface.  As  then, 
so  now,  the  garden  shone  beyond,  a  vision  of  greenness 
and  light  and  color. 

"  Oh  !    I  am  glad  to  come  back  here,"  I  said. 

"  You  came  first  to  work  ;  you  were  to  be  the  drudge 
for  me,"  said  Seboua,  gruffly.  "  Now  all's  changed. 
You  are  to  play,  not  work,  and  I  am  to  treat  you  like  a 
little  prince.  Well  !  have  they  spoiled  thee  yet,  I 
wonder,  child  ?  Would'st  like  to  bathe  ?  " 

"  But  where,"  I  said,  "  in  what  waters  ?  I  would 
love  to  plunge  in  and  swim  in  some  water  that  was  cool 
and  deep." 

"  Thou  canst  swim  ?  and  thou  lovest  the  water  ? 
Well,  come  with  me  and  I  will  show  thee  deep  water 
that  will  be  cool  indeed.  Come  thou  with  me  !  " 

He  walked  on,  and  I  had  to  hurry  to  keep  pace  with 
him.  He  muttered  to  himself  as  he  went,  but  I  could 
not  understand  his  words.  Indeed,  I  did  not  listen,  for 
I  was  thinking  of  how  glorious  the  plunge  into  cool 
water  would  be  on  this  warm  languid  morning. 

We  came  to  a  place  where  there  was  a  wide,  deep 
pool,  into  which  water  came  dropping,  dropping,  in  a 
quick  swift  shower  from  some  place  above. 

"  There  is  water  for  thee,"  said  Seboua.  "  and  no 
flowers  are  there  for  thee  to  hurt." 

I  stood  on  the  brink  in  the  warm  sunlight  and  flung 
my  white  robe  from  me.  Then,  with  one  instant  of 
pause  to  look  around  and  think  how  sweet  the  sun  was, 
I  plunged  into  the  water.  Ah!  indeed,  it  was  cold! 
My  breath  was  almost  gone  with  the  sudden  chill,  but 
I  struck  out  and  began  to  swim,  and  soon  began  to 
glory  in  the  sense  of  keen  refreshment.  I  felt  strong 


82  THE  IDYLL  OF 

and  eager,  here  in  the  sweet  fresh  waters.  No  longer 
languid  as  amid  the  fragrant  odors  of  the  temple,  or 
the  rich  scents  of  the  flowers  in  my  chamber.  I  was  so 
happy,  I  wanted  to  stay  a  long  while  here  in  the  water 
and  the  sun  ;  so  presently  I  ceased  swimming  and  let 
myself  float  idly,  and  closed  my  eyes  that  the  sunlight 
should  not  blind  me. 

Suddenly  I  felt  something  so  strange,  I  grew  breath 
less,  yet  it  was  so  gentle  it  did  not  terrify  me.  It  was 
a  kiss  upon  my  mouth.  I  opened  my  eyes.  There, 
beside  me,  lying  upon  the  surface  of  the  water,  was  my 
own  Queen,  the  Lily  Queen,  the  Lady  of  the  Lotus. 
I  uttered  a  cry  of  joy.  Immediately  all  pleasure  which 
I  had  had  since  last  I  saw  her  vanished  from  my  mind. 
She  was  my  Queen,  my  beautiful  friend ;  when  she 
was  there  I  had  none  other  in  all  the  world. 

"Child,  thou  art  come  to  me  again,"  she  said,  "  but 
soon  thou  wilt  leave  me  ;  and  how  can  I  aid  thee  if 
thou  forgettest  me  utterly  ?  " 

I  made  no  answer,  for  I  was  ashamed.  I  could 
hardly  believe  that  I  had  indeed  forgotten,  and  yet  I 
knew  that  it  was  true. 

"  The  waters  thou  liest  in  now,"  she  said,  "  come  from 
that  place  where  my  flowers,  the  lotus  blossoms,  dwell 
in  their  glory.  Thou  wouldst  die  wert  thou  to  lie  thus 
in  the  water  where  they  dwell.  But  this  that  drops 
from  them  has  but  little  of  their  life  in  it,  and  has 
given  up  its  own  to  them.  When  thou  canst  plunge 
into  the  water  of  the  lotus  tank,  then  thou  wilt  be 
strong  as  the  eagle  and  eager  as  the  young  life  of  the 
newborn.  My  child,  be  thou  strong;  listen  not  to  the 
flattery  which  confuses  thee  ;  listen  only  to  the  truth  ! 
Keep  in  the  sunlight,  dear  child,  and  let  not  the  phan- 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  83 

toms  delude  thee;  for  there  is  the  life  of  lives  awaiting 
thee,  the  pure  flower  of  knowledge  and  love  is  ready  for 
thee  to  pluck.  Wouldst  thou  be  a  tool,  a  mere  instru 
ment  in  the  hands  of  those  who  desire  only  for  them 
selves  ?  No  !  acquire  knowledge  and  grow  strong ;  then 
shalt  thou  be  a  giver  of  sunshine  to  the  world.  Come, 
my  child,  give  me  thine  hand;  rise  in  confidence,  for 
this  water  will  support  thee  ;  rise  and  kneel  upon  it 
and  drink  of  the  sunshine  ;  rise  and  kneel  upon  it,  and 
address  thyself  to  the  light  of  all  life,  that  it  may  illu 
mine  thee." 

I  rose,  holding  her  hand.  I  knelt  beside  her.  I  rose 
again,  and  with  her  stood  upon  the  water — and  then  I 
knew  no  more. 

"  Wouldst  thou  be  a  tool,  a  mere  instrument  in  the 
hands  of  those  who  desire  only  for  themselves  ?  No  ! 
acquire  knowledge  and  grow  strong ;  then  shalt  thou 
be  a  giver  of  sunshine  to  the  world." 

These  words  seemed  whispered  in  my  ear  as  I  awoke ; 
I  repeated  them  over  and  over,  and  remembered  every 
separate  word  rightly.  But  they  were  vague  and  un 
meaning  to  me  ;  I  had  fancied  I  understood  them  when 
first  I  heard  them,  but  now  they  sounded  to  me  as  the 
good  words  of  the  preacher  sound  to  the  dancers  at  the 

festivals. 

*#*##*# 

I  was  a  child  when  these  words  were  breathed  into 
my  ear — a  lad,  helpless  because  ignorant  and  full  of 
youth.  Through  the  years  of  my  growth,  the  cry  to 
my  soul  from  the  Lily  Queen  rang  dimly  and  without 
meaning  in  the  obscure  regions  of  my  brain.  They 
were  to  me  as  the  song  of  the  priest  to  the  babe  that 
hears  but  its  music.  Yet  I  never  forgot  them.  My 


84  THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 

life  was  given  up  to  the  men  who  held  me  in  bondage, 
in  spirit  and  in  body  ;  fetters  lay  heavy  on  my  un- 
a wakened  soul.  While  my  body  yielded  dully  to  the 
guidance  of  its  masters,  I  was  a  slave,  yet  knew  that 
freedom  existed  beneath  the  free  sky  !  But,  though  I 
obe}red  blindly,  and  gave  all  my  strength  and  powers 
to  the  base  uses  of  the  desecrated  temple,  in  my  heart 
I  held  fast  the  memory  of  the  beautiful  queen,  and  in 
my  mind  her  words  were  written  in  fire  that  would 
not  die.  Yet  as  I  grew  to  man's  stature,  my  soul  sick 
ened  within  me.  These  words  which  lived  like  a  star 
in  my  soul  cast  a  strange  light  upon  my  wretched  life. 
And  as  my  mind  developed  I  recognized  this,  and  a 
heavy  weariness,  as  of  death  or  despair,  shut  away  from 
me  all  the  beauty  of  the  world.  From  a  gay  child,  a 
happy  creature  of  sunshine,  I  grew  into  a  sad  youth, 
whose  eyes  were  large  and  heavy  with  tears,  and  whose 
sick  heart  held  hidden  within  it  many  secrets,  but  half 
understood,  of  shame  and  sin  and  sorrow.  Sometimes, 
when  I  wandered  through  the  garden  I  gazed  into  the 
still  water  of  the  lily  tank  and  prayed  to  see  again  the 
vision.  But  it  came  not.  I  had  lost  the  innocence  of 
childhood,  and  had  not  yet  won  the  strength  of  the 
man. 


BOOK  II. 


CHAPTER  I. 

WAS  in  the  garden  of  the  temple,  lying 
beneath  a  wide  tree  that  cast  deep  shade 
upon  the  grass.  I  had  been  very  weary, 
for  all  the  night  before  I  had  been  in  the 
sanctuary,  speaking  the  messages  of  the  dark  spirit 
to  her  priests.  I  slept  a  little  in  the  warm  air  and 
awoke  strangely  full  of  sadness.  I  felt  that  my  youth 
had  gone,  yet  I' had  never  enjo}red  its  fire. 

On  each  side  of  me  was  a  young  priest.  One  was 
fanning  me  with  a  broad  leaf  that  he  must  have  plucked 
from  the  tree  above.  The  other,  leaning  on  one  hand 
upon  the  grass,  regarded  me  earnestly.  His  eyes  were 
large  and  dark  and  pleasant,  like  the  eyes  of  a  kindly 
animal.  I  had  often  admired  his  beauty,  and  I  was 
glad  to  see  him  at  my  side. 

"  You  have  been  too  much  within  doors.  See  now," 
he  said,  when  he  saw  my  eyes  open  wearily,  and  gaze 
into  his  face.  "  They  shall  not  kill  thee  with  the  cere 
monies  of  the  temple,  even  if  thou  art  the  only  one  that 


86  THE  IDYLL  OF 

can  give  them  life.  Wilt  come  into  the  town  with 
us,  and  taste  something  different  from  the  air  of  the 
temple  ?  " 

"  Bat  we  cannot! "  I  said. 

"  Cannot,"  said  Malen  contemptuously.  "  Do  you 
suppose  we  are  prisoners  here  ?  " 

"  But  even  if  we  can  find  a  way  out  the  people  will 
know  us.  The  priests  do  not  go  among  the  people." 

"  The  people  will  not  know  us,"  said  Malen  with  a 
merry  laugh.  "  Agmalid  has  given  us  liberty.  Agmahd 
has  given  us  power.  Come,  if  thou  wilt — we  are 
going." 

The  two  rose  and  held  out  their  hands  to  help  me 
to  rise ;  but  I  was  no  longer  weak.  I  sprang  to  my 
feet,  and  arranged  my  white  garment.  "  Are  we  to 
wear  these  robes  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Yes,  yes,  but  none  will  know  us.  We  shall  appear 
as  beggars,  or  as  princes ;  what  we  will ;  Agmahd  has 
given  us  power.  Come ! " 

I  was  as  delighted  as  they  at  this  prospect  of  adven 
ture.  We  ran  across  the  garden  till  we  came  to  a 
narrow  gate  in  the  wall.  Malen  touched  it,  and  easily 
pushed  it  open.  We  were  outside  the  temple. 

My  companions,  laughing  and  talking  as  we  went, 
ran  across  the  plain  to  the  city.  I  ran  too,  and  lis 
tened  ;  but  I  understood  little  of  what  they  said. 
Evidently  they  knew  the  city,  which  to  me  was  only  a 
name.  True,  I  had  walked  through  it  with  my  mother, 
a  barefoot  country  lad.  But  now,  it  seemed,  I  was  to 
enter  houses,  and  mix  with  great  and  rich  people.  I 
felt  afraid  at  the  thought. 

We  hurried  on  until  we  entered  one  of  the  busiest 
streets.  It  was  crowded  with  gay  people  in  beautiful 


TUE  WHITE  LOTUS.  87 

dresses,  and  all  the  shops  seemed  to  sell  only  jewelry. 
Then  we  turned  through  a  great  gateway,  into  a  court 
yard,  and  from  that  passed  into  a  marble  hall  where  a 
great  fountain  played,  and  large  flowering  shrubs  threw 
out  a  strong  scent. 

A  wide  marble  stairway  went  out  of  this  hall,  and  we 
immediately  commenced  to  climb  it.  And  when  we 
reached  the  top  Malen  opened  a  door,  and  we  en 
tered  a  room  all  hung  with  golden  tapestry,  and  where 
were  a  number  of  people  whose  dresses  and  jewels  dazzled 
me.  They  were  seated  round  a  table  drinking  wine  and 
eating  sweetmeats.  The  air  was  full  of  talk  and  laugh 
ter,  and  heavy  with  perfume.  Three  very  lovely  wo 
men  rose  and  welcomed  us,  each  taking  one  of  us  by  the 
hand,  and  giving  us  a  place  beside  her.  In  a  moment 
we  seemed  to  be  of  the  party,  and  to  mingle  our  laugh 
ter  with  theirs,  as  though  we  had  sat  out  all  the  feast. 
I  know  not  whether  it  was  the  scented  wine  I  drank 
or  the  magic  touch  of  the  beautiful  hand  that  often 
touched  mine,  as  it  lay  upon  the  embroidered  table- 
cover — but  my  head  grew  light  and  strange,  and  I 
talked  of  things  I  did  not  know  anything  about  till  now, 
and  laughed  at  sayings  that  an  hour  before  would 
have  seemed  dull  to  me,  because  of  my  want  of 
understanding. 

She  who  sat  next  me  pressed  her  hand  in  mine. 
I  turned  to  look  at  her  ;  she  was  leaning  towards  me  ; 
her  face  was  brilliant  with  youth  and  beauty.  Her  rich 
dress  had  made  me  feel  a  child  beside  her,  but  now  I  saw 
that  she  was  young,  younger  than  myself,  yet  she  was 
of  such  rich  form  and  radiant  loveliness  that  thousrh  a 

O 

child  in  years  she  was  a  woman  in  charm.  As  I  gazed 
into  her  tender  eyes,  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  knew  her 


88  THE  IDYLL  OF 

well,  that  her  charm  was  familiar,  and  the  stronger  for 
its  familiarity.  She  spoke  many  words  that  at  first  I 
hardly  understood,  indeed  scarcely  heard.  But  grad 
ually,  as  I  listened,  I  grew  to  understand.  She  told  me 
of  her  longing  for  me  in  my  absence,  of  her  love  forme, 
and  of  her  weariness  of  all  others  on  the  earth.  "  The 
room  seemed  dark  and  silent  till  you  came,"  she  said. 
"  The  banquet  had  no  mirth  in  it.  The  others  laughed, 
but  their  laughter  sounded  as  sobs  in  my  ears — the  sobs 
of  those  in  torment.  Is  it  for  me,  who  am  so  young 
and  strong  and  full  of  love,  to  be  so  sad  ?  No — no,  it  is 
not  for  me.  Ah,  lover,  husband,  leave  me  not  again 
alone.  Stay  by  my  side,  and  my  passion  will  make 
thee  strong  to  fulfill  thy  destiny." 

I  rose  from  my  seat  suddenly,  holding  her  hand 
clasped  tight  in  mine. 

"It  is  true,"  I  cried  in  a  loud  voice.  "I  have  done 
ill  to  neglect  that  which  is  the  glory  of  life.  I  confess 
it,  that  thy  beauty,  which  indeed  is  mine,  had  been 
blotted  from  my  mind.  But  now  I  see  thee  with  mine 
eyes  1  wonder  I  could  ever  have  seen  beauty  in  aught 
else  in  heaven  or  earth." 

Suddenly,  while  I  spoke,  there  was  a  movement 
among  the  startled  guests.  With  wonderful  rapidity, 
they  left  the  table  and  were  at  once  gone  from  the 
room.  Only  the  two  young  priests  remained.  Their 
eyes  were  fixed  on  me.  They  seemed  grave,  serious, 
disturbed.  They  rose  slowly.  "  You  will  not  return 
to  the  temple?"  said  Malen.  My  answer  was  a  gest 
ure  of  impatience. 

"  Do  you  forget,"  he  demanded,  "  that  we  were  but 
to  look  at  the  follies  of  the  city,  that  we  might  know  of 
what  clay  men  are  made?  You  know  that  the  initi- 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 


89 


ed  priests  must  retain  their  purity.  What  of  you,  the 
seer  of  the  temple  ?  Even  I,  who  am  but  a  novice,  dare 
not  yield  to  the  fierce  longing  for  liberty  that  fills  my 
soul.  Ah,  to  be  free '  to  be  a  child  of  the  city,  to  know 
the  meaning  of  life  !  But  I  dare  not.  Else  am  I  less 
than  nothing,  I  should  have  no  place  in  the  temple,  no 
place  in  the  world.  How  then  will  it  be  with  thee,  the 
seer?  How  are  we  to  answer  to  Agmahd  for  thee  ?  " 

I  made  no  answer.  But  she  who  sat  beside  me  rose 
and  advanced  towards  him.  She  took  a  jewel  from 
her  neck,  and  put  it  in  his  hand. 

"  Give  him  this,"  she  said,  "  and  he  will  ask  no 
more." 


CHAPTER  II. 


ROM  this  hour  there  is  a  time  of  which  I 
cannot  give  so  careful  an  account  as  of  the 
other  days  of  my  life.  It  is  blurred  and 
veiled  by  the  similarity  of  the  emotions 
through  which  I  passed.  Indeed,  they  merged  together 
and  became  one  and  the  same.  I  drank  deep  of  pleas 
ure  each  day ;  each  hour  it  seemed  to  me  that  my  beau 
tiful  companion  grew  more  beautiful,  so  that  I  gazed 
upon  her  face  in  wonder.  She  led  me  through  the 
rooms  of  our  palace,  and  I  could  not  stay  to  see  their 
splendor,  because  always  beyond  were  chambers  yet 
more  splendid.  With  her  I  wandered  through  the  gar 
dens,  where  the  fragrant  flowers  grew  in  a  profusion 
such  as  I  had  never  seen  in  any  other  place.  Beyond 
the  gardens  were  meadows  ;  in  the  short,  sweet  grass 
grew  many  wild  flowers,  and  lilies  blossomed  in  the 
stream  that  ran  through  the  fields.  Here  the  city 
maidens  came  at  evening,  some  to  fetch  water,  some  to 
bathe  in  the  stream  and  sit  afterwards  upon  its  bank, 
and  talk  and  laugh  and  sing  until  the  night  was  half- 
spent.  Their  gleaming  forms  and  sweet  voices  made 
the  evenings  doubly  beautiful,  and  I  would  linger 
among  them  under  the  stars,  and  would  often  have 
90 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  91 

stayed  until  the  dawn,  tlie  playmate  of  them  all,  but 
only  whispering  words  of  love  to  those  who  were  most 
beautiful.  And  then,  as  they,  singing  in  low  voices, 
left  me,  she  my  own  most  beautiful  went  with  me  back 
to  the  palace,  wherein  we  lived  amid  the  city,  yet  apart 
from  it.  For  we  were  happy  as  were  none  else  within 
that  city. 

I  cannot  tell  how  long  passed  thus.  Only  I  know 
that  one  day  I  lay  within  my  own  chamber,  and  she 
the  most  beautiful  sang  sweet  low  songs  while  her  head 
lay  upon  my  arm,  when  in  a  moment  the  song  was 
hushed  upon  her  lips  and  she  lay  pale  and  still.  I 
heard,  in  the  silence,  a  slow,  soft  footfall  on  the  stairs. 
The  door  was  opened,  and  Agmahd  the  high  priest  stood 
motionless  within  it. 

He  gazed  at  me  one  moment  with  his  terrible  eyes, 
that  were  cold  as  though  they  wer.e  jewels  ;  there  was 
a  smile  upon  his  face,  but  that  smile  struck  me  with 
fear,  and  I  trembled. 

"  Come,"  he  said. 

I  arose  unhesitatingly.  I  knew  that  I  must  obey. 
I  looked  not  back  until  I  heard  a  swift  movement  and 
a  sob  ;  then  I  turned.  But  she,  the  most  beautiful, 
was  gone.  Had  she  fled  from  before  this  unexpected 
appearance  in  our  chamber  ?  I  could  not  stay  to  see, 
or  go  to  comfort  her.  I  knew  that  I  must  follow 
Agmahd;  I  felt  as  I  had  never  felt  before,  that  he  was 
my  master.  As  I  came  to  the  doorway,  I  saw  across 
the  threshold  a  snake  that  reared  its  head  at  my  ap 
proach.  I  sprang  back  with  a  cry  of  horror. 

Agmahd  smiled.  "  Do  not  fear,"  he  said.  "  This  is 
a  favorite  of  thy  Queen,  and  will  do  her  chosen  servant 
no  harm.  Come  I  " 


92  THE  IDTLL  OF 

At  his  command  I  felt  compelled  to  follow ;  I  dared 
not  disobey.  I  passed  the  snake  with  averted  eyes, 
and  as  I  reached  the  stairway  I  heard  its  hiss  of  anger. 

Agmahd  went  through  the  gardens  to  the  meadows 
beyond.  It  was  evening,  and  already  the  stars  were 
gleaming  in  the  sky  and  the  eyes  of  the  maidens  shone 
as  they  sat  in  groups  by  the  side  of  the  stream.  But 
they  did  not  sing  as  was  their  habit.  In  the  midst  of 
the  stream  was  a  boat,  and  in  it  two  oarsmen.  I  recog 
nized  the  young  priests  who  had  come  with  me  to  the 
city.  Their  eyes  were  downcast,  and  they  did  not 
raise  them  even  at  my  approach.  I  understood  as  I 
passed  by  the  girls  that  they  had  recognized  old  ac 
quaintances  and  merry  companions  in  those  two  young 
priests,  and  were  amazed  and  full  of  wonder  to  see 
them  in  this  dress,  and  of  such  changed  demeanor. 

Agmahd  entered  the  boat ;  I  followed  him  ;  and  then 
we  rowed  silently  towards  the  temple. 

I  had  never  seen  the  entrance  to  the  temple  from  the 
water.  I  had  heard  when  I  was  in  the  city  with  my 
mother  that  this  entrance  used  to  be  often  used,  but 
now  it  was  reserved  only  for  festivals,  so  that  I  was 
much  amazed  to  enter  by  this  way.  I  was  more  amazed 
to  find  all  the  sacred  precinct  full  of  boats  decorated 
with  flowers  and  occupied  by  white-robed  priests,  who 
sat  with  their  eyes  downcast.  But  1  soon  saw  that  to 
day  was  a  festival. 

This  temple  !  It  seemed  a  hundred  years  since  I  had 
dwelled  within  it.  Agmahd  himself  looked  strange  and 
unfamiliar  to  me.  Was  I  indeed  grown  much  older? 
I  could  not  tell,  for  I  found  no  mirror  in  which  to  see 
my  face,  and  I  found  no  friend  to  ask.  Only  this  I 
knew,  that  compared  with  the  youth  who  ran  from  the 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  93 

garden  of  the  temple,  eager  for  adventure,  I  was  now 
a  man.  And  I  kne\v  my  manhood  had  come  to  me  not 
in  glory,  but  in  shame.  I  was  a  slave.  A  deep  gloom 
settled  on  my  soul  as  we  entered  the  temple.  The 
boat  was  drawn  up  to  some  wide  white  marble  steps, 
which  were  withiu  the  walls  of  the  temple  and  beneath 
its  roof.  I  had  never  known  the  great  river  was  so  near. 
When  we  had  reached  the  top  of  the  steps,  Agmahd 
opened  a  door,  and  lo !  we  were  immediately  at  the  en 
trance  of  the  holy  of  holies.  Only  a  few  faint  torches, 
held  by  silent  priests,  lit  the  great  corridor.  It  was 
but  dusk  outside,  on  the  river ;  here  it  was  like  deep 
night.  At  a  sign  from  Agmahd  the  torches  were  ex 
tinguished.  But  all  light  was  not  gone  !  for  round  the 
door  of  the  sanctuary  gleamed  that  strange  light  which 
once  had  so  terrified  me.  It  did  not  terrify  me  now. 
I  knew  Vhat  I  had  to  do ;  and,  unhesitatingly  and 
without  fear,  I  did  it.  I  advanced,  opened  the  door, 
and  entered. 

Within  stood  the  dark  figure,  whose  robes  gleamed 
and  whose  eyes  were  cold  and  terrible.  She  smiled  and 
put  out  her  hand  and  laid  it  upon  mine.  I  shuddered 
at  the  touch,  it  was  so  cold. 

"Tell  Agmahd,"  she  said,  "that  I  am  coming.  That 
I  will  be  beside  you  in  the  boat.  That  he  is  to  stand  in 
the  midst  with  us,  and  my  other  servants  to  surround 
us.  And  that  then,  if  all  is  done  as  I  order,  I  will 
work  a  wonder  before  all  the  priests  and  before  the 
people.  And  this  I  will  do  because  I  am  well  pleased 
with  my  servants,  and  because  I  desire  them  to  have 
power  and  wealth." 

I  said  her  words  again  :  and  when  I  had  ceased 
Agmahd's  voice  came  out  of  the  darkness. 


94  THE  IDYLL  OF 

"  The  Queen  is  welcomed !  The  Queen  shall  be 
obeyed." 

A  moment  later  and  the  torches  were  again  lit.  I 
saw  that  they  were  ten  in  number,  carried  by  ten 
priests,  who  all  wore  white  robes  deeply  embroidered  in 
gold,  as  was  that  of  Aginahd.  Among  them  was 
Kameu  Baka.  His  face  looked  strange  to  me.  It  was 
as  the  face  of  an  ecstatic. 

Agmahd  opened  the  door  which  admitted  us  to  the 
river  steps.  A  different  boat  was  moored  here  now. 
It  was  large,  with  a  wide  deck  surrounded  by  vases,  in 
which  burned  something  strongly  fragrant.  Within 
these  vases  a  circle  was  drawn  in  crimson,  and  mingled 
with  that  a  figure  which  I  could  not  understand.  At 
the  sides  of  the  boat,  below  this  raised  deck,  sat  the 
rowers — white-robed  priests.  All  were  still  and  mute, 
waiting  with  downcast  eyes.  The  boat  was  hung  with 
thick  garlands  of  flowers,  massed  together  till  they 
seemed  like  great  ropes.  A  lamp  was  burning  at  each 
end. 

We  entered  the  boat.  Agmahd  went  first  and  stood 
in  the  midst  of  the  circle.  I  took  my  place  at  his  side. 
Between  us,  clearly  visible  to  my  eyes,  was  the  figure. 
She  shed  a  light  like  that  which  illumined  the  sanctuary, 
only  less  brilliant.  But  I  saw  that  none  perceived  her 
presence  but  myself. 

The  ten  priests  entered  the  bout  also,  and  placed 
themselves  within  the  crimson  circle,  thus  completely 
enclosing  us.  Then  the  boat  slowly  swung  from  the 
steps.  I  saw  that  a  number  of  boats  were  before  and 
behind  us,  all  hung  with  flowers  and  lamps,  all  filled 
with  white-robed  priests.  Silently  the  procession  shot 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  95 

out  upon  the  bosom  of  the  sacred  river  and  advanced 
towards  the  city. 

When  we  were  at  last  outside  the  temple,  I  heard 
a  deep  murmur  rise  and  fill  the  air.  It  was  so  long  and 
deep,  it  made  me  tremble  with  wonder  but  it  disturbed 
none  else,  and  soon  I  saw  its  meaning.  As  my  eyes 
grew  accustomed  to  the  starlight,  I  saw  that  all  the  fields 
on  each  side  of  the  river  were  full  of  a  surging,  swaying, 
mass  of  forms.  A  vast  multitude  of  people  crowded 
at  the  water's  edge,  and  filled  the  fields  as  far  as  I  could 
see.  This  was  a  great  festival,  and  I  had  not  known  it. 
I  wondered  a  while  ;  but  soon  I  remembered  that  I 
had,  indeed,  heard  it  spoken  of,  but  I  had  been  so  satu 
rated  with  the  immediate  pleasures  about  me  that  I  had 
not  heeded.  Perhaps,  had  I  remained  in  the  city  till 
now,  I  should  have  mingled  in  the  crowd  ;  but  now  I 
was  isolated  from  the  crowd,  and,  as  it  seemed  to  me, 
from  all  that  was  human.  I  stood  silent  and  immovable 
as  Agmahd  himself.  Yet,  my  soul  was  torn  with  a  de 
spair  I  could  not  understand,  and  crushed  by  a  horror 
of  the  unknown  which  was  yet  to  come. 


CHAPTER  III. 

S  the  boats  glided  down  the  river,  suddenly 
the  deep  silence  was  broken  by  a  burst 
of  song.  It  came  from  the  priests  who 
rowed.  From  every  boat  the  hymn  rushed 
forth  in  a  volume  of  sound,  and  I  could  see  by  the 
great  movement,  visible  even  in  the  dimness,  that  the 
people  fell  upon  their  knees.  But  they  were  silent ; 
they  adored  and  listened  while  the  priests'  voices  rang 
out  upon  the  air. 

When  the  song  ceased,  there  was  a  silence  that  was 
not  broken  for  some  minutes.  The  people  remained 
motionless,  kneeling,  silent.  But  on  a  sudden  they 
flung  themselves  prostrate  upon  the  ground,  and  I 
could  hear  the  sigh,  the  long  breath  of  awe  that  came 
from  the  multitude  :  for  the  priests  had  burst  out  anew, 
with  a  cry  of  melodious  triumph,  and  the  words  they 
uttered  in  so  loud  and  strong  a  voice  were  these — 

"  The  goddess  is  with  us  !  She  is  in  our  midst ! 
Fall  down,  O  people,  and  worship  !  " 

At  this  moment  the  figure  which  stood  between  me 
and  the  priest  Agm ah d  turned  and  smiled  into  my  face. 

"Now  my  chosen  servant,"  she  said,  "I  must  ask 
jour  service.  I  have  paid  you  beforehand  that  you 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  97 

might  not  hesitate.  But  do  not  fear.  You  shall  be 
paid  again  and  that  doubly.  Give  me  your  hands. 
Place  your  lips  upon  my  forehead,  and  fear  not,  move 
not,  utter  no  cry,  whatsoever  faintness,  whatsoever 
tremor  come  upon  thee.  Thy  life  will  become  mine. 
I  shall  draw  it  from  thee :  but  I  shall  return  it.  Is  it 
not  precious  ?  Do  not  fear." 

I  obeyed  her  without  hesitation,  yet  with  dread  un 
imaginable.  But  I  could  not  resist  her  will.  I  knew 
myself  her  slave.  Her  cold  hands  clasped  mine,  and  in 
stantly  it  seemed  that  they  were  no  longer  soft,  but  had 
become  rivets  of  steel,  which  held  me  fast  and  were 
inexorable.  Impelled  by  my  sense  of  helplessness,  I 
dared  the  glitter  of  these  terrible  eyes,  and  drew  close 
to  her.  I  longed  for  death  to  release  me,  but  I  could 
hope  for  no  other  help.  I  placed  my  lips  upon  her 
forehead.  The  vapor  from  the  lamps  and  vessels  had 
filled  my  brain  with  a  strange  sleepiness,  and  I  was 
dull  and  heavy.  But  now,  as  my  lips  touched  her 
forehead,  which  scorched  them,  I  knew  not  whether 
with  cold  or  heat,  a  frenzied  sense  of  joy,  of  lightness, 
of  almost  insane  delight  filled  me.  I  knew  myself  no 
longer  ;  I  was  swayed  and  dominated  by  a  surging  sea 
of  emotions  which  were  not  my  own.  They  swept 
through  me,  and  their  rush  appeared  to  wash  away  my 
individuality  utterly,  and,  as  it  then  seemed,  for  ever. 
Yet  I  was  not  unconscious ;  my  consciousness  grew 
momently  more  intense  and  awake.  Then,  in  one 
strange  second,  I  forgot  the  lost  individuality — I  knew 
that  I  was  living  in  the  brain,  in  the  heart,  in  the 
essence  of  that  being  who  had  so  utterly  dominated 
me.  A  wild  cry,  instantly  hushed,  rang  out  from  the 
people.  They  saw  their  goddess.  And  I,  looking 


98 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 


down,  saw  at  my  feet  the  seemingly  dead  form  of  a 
young  priest,  robed  in  white  garments,  gold-embroid 
ered.  I  paused  for  one  instant,  in  my  joy  of  power  to 
wonder,  Was  he  dead  ? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

COULD  see  the  great  multitude  which  was 
on  each  side  clearly  ;  a  light  fell  upon  them 
which  they  did  not  perceive.  It  was 
not  the  starlight  by  which  they  saw,  but  a 
brilliance  that  came  not  from  the  heavens  but  from  my 
eyes.  I  saw  their  hearts — I  saw  not  their  bodies  but 
themselves.  I  recognized  my  servants,  and  my  soul 
lifted  itself  as  I  perceived  that  nearly  all  of  this  multi 
tude  were  ready  to  serve  me.  Mine  was  a  worthy 
army  ;  they  would  obey,  not  from  duty  but  desire. 

I  saw  in  each  heart  what  was  its  hunger,  and  I  knew 
that  I  could  feed.  it.  One  long  moment  I  remained 
visible ;  then  I  left  my  chosen  servants.  I  bade  them 
draw  near  to  the  shore  ;  for  now  that  I  was  no  longer 
intent  upon  making  myself  seen  by  these  dull  eyes 
of  men,  I  could  speak  to  and  touch  those  whom  I 
chose.  The  strong  life  of  the  young  priest  was  enough 
to  feed  the  lamp  of  physical  power  for  some  time  if  I 
did  not  use  it  too  swiftly. 

I  stepped  upon  the  shore,  and  moved  among  the 
people,  speaking  into  the  ear  of  each  the  secret  of  his 
heart — more,  I  told  him  how  to  obtain  that  which  he 
only  thought  of  silently.  No  man  or  woman  was  with 
out  some  longing  whicli  shame  would  have  held  them 


100  THE  IDYLL  OF 

forever  from  uttering  even  to  a  confessor.  But  I  saw 
it,  and  mad.e  it  no  longer  a  thing  of  shame,  and  show 
ed  how  small  an  effort  of  will,  how  slight  a  knowledge 
was  needed  for  the  first  step  in  self-gratification.  All 
through  the  throng  I  went,  hither  and  thither,  and  as 
I  passed  I  left  a  maddened  and  impassioned  crowd 
behind  me.  At  length  the  intoxication  which  my 
presence  produced  could  no  longer  be  held  in  check. 
With  one  voice  the  people  burst  out  into  a  wild  song 
that  thrilled  my  blood,  and  made  it  burn  within  me. 
Have  I  not  heard  this  song  under  other  skies,  sung  in 
the  voices  and  languages  of  all  peoples  ?  Have  I  not 
heard  it  from  peoples  who  are  long  since  extinct  and 
forgotten  ?  Shall  I  not  hear  it  from  peoples  whose 
dwelling-places  are  not  yet  created?  It  is  my  song ! 
It  gives  me  life  !  Uttered  silently  in  one  heart,  it  is 
the  cry  of  the  unspoken  passion,  the  hidden  madness 
of  self.  When  it  comes  from  the  throat  of  the  multi 
tude,  shame  is  gone  and  concealment  at  an  end.  Then 
it  is  the  frenzied  utterance  of  the  orgie,  the  outcry  of 
the  devotees  of  pleasure. 

My  work  was  done.  I  had  lit  a  great  fire  which 
raged  on  like  the  fire  in  the  forest.  I  turned  back  to 
the  sacred  boat  where  it  awaited  me.  Motionless  they 
stood  there,  waiting  my  return,  those  my  chosen  ser 
vants,  the  high  priests  of  the  temple.  Ah,  my  mighty 
ones  in  passion  !  Kings  in  lust !  Monarchs  in  desire ! 

And  the  young  priest — was  he  still  there  ?  Still 
looking  like  one  dead  ?  Yes,  he  lay  motionless,  pallid, 
in  the  midst  of  the  circle  formed  by  the  high  priests, 
lying  at  the  feet  of  Agmahd,  who  stood  here  alone. 

As  this  thought  came  to  me,  I  seemed  suddenly  to 
withdraw  myself  in  some  mysterious  way  from  the  sea 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  101 

of  passion  in  which  I  had  been  submerged.  I  knew 
myself  again — that  I  was  not  the  goddess,  but  had 
been  only  absorbed  by  her,  sucked  up  into  her  embrac 
ing  personality.  Now  I  was  again  separated  from  her. 
But  I  did  not  return  to  that  pale  shape  which  so  life 
lessly  lay  upon  the  deck  of  the  sacred  boat.  I  was  in 
the  temple  ;  I  was  in  darkness  ;  yet  I  knew  that  I  was 
in  the  holy  of  holies. 

A  light  came  in  the  darkness.  I  looked,  and,  lo ! 
the  inner  cave  was  full  of  light ;  and  within  it  stood 
the  Lady  of  the  Lotus. 

I  was  at  the  door  of  the  inner  cave,  close  to  her, 
within  the  glance  of  her  eyes.  I  tried  to  escape — I 
tried  to  turn — I  could  not.  I  trembled  as  I  had  never 
trembled  before  even  with  horror  or  dread. 

For  she  stood  silently,  her  eyes  upon  me.  And  I 
saw  that  they  were  full  of  a  great  anger.  And  she 
who  had  been  to  me  a  tender  friend,  gentle  as  a  kind 
mother,  now  stood  in  her  majesty  before  me,  and  I 
knew  that  I  had  angered  a  god  the  most  to  be  dreaded 
of  all  that  are  known  to  men. 

"  Was  it  for  this,  O  Sensa  !  beloved  of  the  gods  ! 
that  thou  wert  born  ?  Was  it  for  this  that  thine  eyes 
were  opened  and  thy  senses  made  clear  to  perceive  ? 
Thou  knowest  it  was  not ;  yet  those  seeing  eyes  and 
those  swift  senses  have  at  last  served  their  master,  and 
shown  thee  who  and  what  it  is  thou  hast  been  serving. 
Wilt  thou  serve  her  always?  Now  that  thou  art  a 
man,  choose  !  Art  thou  fallen  so  low  that  thou  wilt  be 
a  slave  forever  ?  Go,  then !  I  have  come  to  cleanse 
my  sanctuary.  I  will  endure  no  longer.  It  shall  be 
silent,  and  the  people  shall  not  know  that  any  gods 
exist,  rather  than  that  they  shall  be  lied  to  by  false  lips, 


102  THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 

and  tempted  by  the  darkness.  Go !  None  shall  enter 
here  again.  I  close  the  door  !  The  sanctuary  is  dumb, 
and  knows  no  voice.  I  sit  here  alone  and  silent;  yea, 
through  the  ages  I  will  dwell  here  without  speech,  and 
the  people  shall  say  I  am  dead.  Be  it  so !  In  the  ages 
to  come  my  children  will  rise  again,  and  the  darkness 
shall  break.  Go  !  Thou  hast  chosen !  Fall !  Thy 
estate  is  lost.  Leave  me  to  my  silence  !  " 

She  raised  her  hand  with  a  gesture  that  bade  me 
leave  her.  It  was  so  imperative,  so  royal,  that  I  could 
not  disobey.  I  turned,  I  drooped  my  head,  I  went 
with  sad  steps  to  the  outer  door  of  the  sanctuary.  Yet 
I  could  not  open  it;  I  could  not  pass  out;  I  could  ad 
vance  no  further.  My  heart  turned  sick  within  me 
and  held  me  back.  I  fell  on  my  knees  and  cried  out 
in  a  voice  of  agony,  tk  Mother  !  Queen  and  Mother !  " 

A  moment  passed  in  an  awful  silence ,  I  waited,  I 
knew  not  for  what.  My  soul  was  hungry  and  desper 
ate.  An  awful  memory  came  to  me  in  the  darkness  and 
silence.  I  saw  in  the  past  not  only  pleasure,  but  deeds. 
I  saw  that  I  had  done  these  blindly,  accepting  the  stupe 
faction  of  my  soul  as  men  accept  the  dulness  of  wine. 
And  I  had  done  the  work  given  me  to  do  in  a  stupor, 
thinking  not  of  it,  but  of  the  rewards,  of  each  pleasure 
that  was  to  come.  I  had  been  the  mouthpiece,  the  or 
acle  of  her,  that  black  soul,  whom  now  I  had  seen,  and 
whom  now  I  knew.  The  past  grew  so  terrible,  so  pres 
ent,  so  fierce  in  its  denunciation,  that  again  I  cried 
out  in  the  darkness,  "  Mother  !  Save  me  ! " 

A  touch  came  on  my  hand  and  on  my  face.  I  heard 
a  voice  in  my  ear  and  in  my  heart,  "  Thou  art  saved. 
Be  strong."  And  the  light  came  upon  my  eyes,  but  I 
could  not  see,  for  a  rain  of  tears  washed  from  them  the 
frightful  visions  they  had  seen. 


CHAPTER  V. 

WAS  no  longer  in  the  sanctuary.  I  felt 
the  air  on  my  face.  I  opened  my  eyes  and 
saw  the  sky  above  me,  and  the  shining 
stars  in  its  depth.  I  was  lying  prostrate, 
and  I  felt  strangely  weary.  Yet  I  was  roused  by  the 
sound  of  a  thousand  voices,  whose  cries  and  songs 
struck  on  my  ears.  What  could  this  be  ? 

I  raised  myself.  I  was  in  the  midst  of  the  circle  of 
priests^  of  the  ten  high-priests.  Agmahd  stood  beside 
me ;  he  was  watching  me.  My  eyes  fixed  on  his  face, 
and  I  could  not  look  away.  Pitiless,  heartless,  soul 
less  J  Had  I  feared  him?  This  image,  this  unhuman 
being?  I  feared  him  no  longer.  I  looked  round  at 
the  priests  who  surrounded  me.  I  read  their  faces; 
they  were  absorbed,  self-conscious.  Each  and  all  were 
bitten  and  eaten  by  one  deep  desire,  one  hunger  for 
gratification,  which  he  cherished  like  a  serpent,  next 
his  heart.  I  could  no  longer  fear  these  men.  I  had 
seen  the  light.  I  was  strong. 

I  rose  to  my  feet.  I  looked  round  at  the  multitudes 
who  crowded  the  banks  of  the  river,  beneath  the  clear 
sky.  I  understood  then  the  strange  voices  I  had  heard. 
The  people  were  mad ;  some  with  wine,  some  with 


104  THE  IDYLL  OF 

love,  some  with  absolute  frenzy.  Numbers  of  small 
boats  had  crowded  the  water ;  the  people  had  come  in 
these  to  make  offerings  to  the  goddess  whom  they 
adored,  and  whom  to-night  they  had  seen,  and  heard, 
and  felt.  The  sacred  boat  on  which  I  stood  was 
weighted  and  heaped  with  the  offerings  the  people  had 
flung  into  it,  standing  up  in  their  low  vessels,  their 
rafts,  by  the  side  of  ours.  Gold  and  silver,  jewels,  and 
vessels  of  gold  set  with  shining  stones.  Agmahd 
looked  at  these  things,  and  T  saw  the  smile  on  his  lips. 
These  riches  might  feed  the  temple,  but  for  himself  it 
was  very  different  jewels  he  desired  and  worked  for. 
My  soul  spoke  suddenly  unawares.  I  could  look  on 
and  be  silent  no  longer.  I  spoke  in  a  loud  voice,  and 
commanded  the  people  to  hear  me,  and  immediately 
there  was  a  stillness  which  grew  till  it  spread  over  the 
multitude. 

"  Listen  to  me,  you  that  are  worshippers  here,  of  the 
goddess.  What  goddess  is  it  you  worship  ?  Can  you 
not  tell  by  the  words  she  whispers  into  your  hearts? 
Look  within,  and  if  she  lias  seared  you  with  the  fierce 
heat  of  passion,  know  she  is  no  true  god  '  For  there 
is  no  truth  save  in  wisdom.  Listen,  and  I  will  speak 
to  you  words  that  have  been  uttered  in  the  sanctuary, 
and  breathed  by  the  spirit  of  light,  our  Queen  Mother. 
Know  that  in  virtue,  in  true  thoughts,  in  true  deeds, 
only  can  you  find  peace.  Is  this  dark  orgie  a  fit  sur 
rounding  for  the  goddess  of  truth  ?  Are  you  her 
worshippers,  who  are  drunk  with  wine  and  passion 
here  beneath  the  open  sky  ?  You  with  wild  words  of 
impiety  and  frenzied  songs  on  your  lips,  and  thoughts 
of  shame  at  your  hearts,  ready  to  spring  boldly  into 
deeds  ?  No !  down  on  your  knees,  and  lift  your  hands 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  105 

to  heaven,  and  ask  that  beneficent  spirit,  our  Queen  of 
wisdom,  who  broods  over  you  with  wide  wings  of  love, 
to  forgive  your  shamelessness,  to  help  you  in  a  new 
effort.  Hear  me.  I  will  pray  to  her,  for  I  see  her  in 
her  splendor.  Speak  to  her  the  words  I  utter,  and 
she  shall  surely  listen,  for  she  loves  you  even  though 
you  offend " 

A  burst  of  melody,  a  number  of  strong  voices  sing 
ing,  drowned  my  voice.  The  priests  had  burst  out 
into  song  with  the  rich  music  of  a  hymn.  The  people, 
swayed  by  my  voice  and  words,  had  in  masses  fallen 
upon  their  knees.  Now,  intoxicated  by  the  music, 
they  sang  the  hymn  with  fervor,  and  the  volume  of 
sound  rose  majestically  into  the  sky.  A  strong  sweet 
scent  entered  my  nostrils.  I  turned  from  it  with 
dislike,  but  already  it  had  done  its  work.  I  felt  my 
brain  swoon. 

"  He  is  in  an  ecstasy,"  said  Kamen  Baka. 

"  He  is  mad,"  I  heard  uttered,  in  another  voice — a 
voice  so  cold,  so  enraged,  I  hardly  recognized  it.  Yet 
I  knew  it  was  Agmahd  who  spoke. 

I  strove  to  answer  him,  for  I  was  inspired  in  all  I 
did  by  a  new  and  strange  courage,  and  I  knew  nothing 
of  fear.  But  already  the  stupefying  vapor  had  done 
its  work.  I  was  dumb,  as  in  sleep ;  my  head  grew 
heavy.  In  a  few  seconds  I  was  asleep. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

=7HEN  I  awoke  I  was  in  my  old  chamber  in  the 
|-'c  temple;  the  one  in  which  my  first  boyish 
V  terrors  came  to  me. 

I  was  very  tired  ;  so  tired  that  the  first 
sensation  I  experienced  was  that  of  intolerable  weari 
ness,  which  numbed  all  my  body.  I  lay  still  a  little 
while,  thinking  only  of  my  discomfort. 

Then  suddenly  the  events  of  yesterday  came  into  my 
memory.  It  was  like  the  rising  of  the  sun.  I  had  found 
her  again,  my  Queen  Mother,  and  she  had  taken  me 
back  to  her  protection. 

I  rose,  forgetting  my  pain  and  weariness.  It  was 
just  dawn,  and  through  the  high  window  the  faint  gray 
light  came  softly  into  my  room.  It  was  brilliant  with 
rich  material  and  rich  embroidery ;  full  of  strange  and 
beautiful  things  which  made  it  seem  like  a  chamber  for 
a  prince.  But  for  its  peculiar  shape  and  the  high 
window,  it  could  hardly  have  been  recognized  as  the 
room  which  in  my  childhood  had  been  made  a  garden 
of  flowers  for  my  pleasure. 

The  air  within  seemed  to  me  heavy  and  dull ;  I  long 
ed  to  be  outside,  in  the  air,  sweet  with  the  newness  of 
morning ;  for  I  felt  that  I  too  needed  to  be  new-made 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS,  107 

and  strong  with  the  strength  of  youth.  And  here  the 
perfumed  atmosphere,  the  heavy  draperies  and  weight 
of  luxury,  oppressed  me. 

I  lifted  the  curtain  and  crossed  the  great  room  which 
was  next  mine.  It  was  empty  and  silent;  so  was  the 
wide  corridor.  I  went  softly  on  through  the  long  cor 
ridors,  till  I  reached  that  in  which  the  gate  opened  to 
the  garden.  Through  the  iron  grating  I  could  see  the 
gleam  of  the  grass  as  I  approached  it.  Ah,  that  beauti 
ful  garden !  Oh,  to  bathe  in  that  sweet  water  of  the 
lily  tank  ! 

But  the  iron  door  was  fast  locked ;  I  could  but 
look  through  at  the  grass  and  sky  and  flowers,  and 
drink  the  sweet  air  in  through  the  narrow  openings. 
Suddenly  I  saw  Seboua  approaching  down  one  of  the 
garden  walks.  He  came  straight  to  the  iron  door  with 
in  which  I  stood. 

"Seboua!  "  I  cried. 

"  Ah,  thou  art  here,"  he  said,  speaking  in  his  rough 
tones.  "  The  man  and  the  child  are  alike.  But  no 
longer  may  Seboua  be  thy  friend.  I  have  failed,  and  I 
may  not  try  again.  .  I  angered  both  my  masters  when 
you  were  a  child  ;  I  could  not  hold  you  fast  for  either. 
Be  it  so  ;  you  must  now  stand  alone." 

"  Can  you  not  open   the  gate  ?  "  was  all  my  answer. 

"  No,"  he  said  ;  "  and  I  doubt  if  it  will  ever  be 
opened  for  thee  again.  What  matters  it  ?  Art  thou 
not  the  favorite  priest  of  the  temple,  the  darling,  the 
cherished  one  ?  " 

"No,"  I  answered,  "  I  am  that  no  longer.  They 
already  say  I  am  mad.  They  will  say  it  again  to-day." 

Seboua  looked  at  me  earnestly.  "  They  will  kill  you  !  " 
he  said  in  a  low  voice  full  of  tenderness  and  pity. 


108 

"  They  cannot,"  I  answered,  smiling.  "  My  Queen 
will  protect  me.  I  must  live  till  I  have  spoken  all  she 
wishes.  Then,  I  care  not." 

Seboua  raised  his  hand  from  where  it  had  remained 
hidden  in  the  folds  of  his  black  dress.  He  held  in  it  a 
bud  of  the  lotus  flower  that  lay  in  a  green  leaf  which 
seemed  its  bed. 

"  Take  it,"  he  said.  "  It  is  for  thee  ;  it  speaks  a 
language  that  thou  wilt  understand.  Take  it,  and  may 
good  go  with  thee.  I  that  am  dumb,  save  in  common 
speech,  yet  am  worthy  to  be  a  messenger.  That  makes 
me  glad.  But  thou  mayst  rejoice,  for  thou  canst  hear 
and  speak,  learn  and  teach." 

Immediately  he  was  gone  ;  while  he  had  been  speak 
ing  he  had  pushed  the  flower  to  me  through  one  of  the 
narrow  openings  of  the  grating.  I  drew  it  towards  me 
carefully.  I  held  it  now  in  my  hands  ;  I  was  content. 
I  needed  nothing  else. 

I  went  back  to  my  room  and  sat  down,  holding  the 
flower  in  my  hand.  It  was  the  same  thing  over  again 
as  when  I  had,  long  ago,  a  mere  child,  sat  in  this  same 
chamber,  holding  a  lily  and  gazing  into  its  centre.  I 
had  a  friend,  a  guide  ;  a  union  with  that  unseen  Mother 
of  grace.  But  now  I  knew  the  value  of  what  I  held  ; 
then  I  did  not.  Was  it  possible  that  it  would  be  again 
taken  from  me  so  easily?  Surely  no. 

For  I  could  understand  its  language  now.  Then  it 
spoke  to  me  of  nothing  save  its  own  beauty;  now  it 
opened  my  eyes,  and  I  saw  ;  it  unsealed  my  ears,  and 
I  heard. 

A  circle  was  round  me  ;  such  as  had  surrounded  me 
when  I  had  taught,  unknowingly,  in  the  temple.  These 
were  priests,  white-robed,  as  those  had  been  who  knelt 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  109 

and  worshipped  me.  But  these  did  not  kneel ;  they 
stood  and  gazed  down  upon  me  with  profound  eyes  of 
pity  and  love.  Some  were  old  men,  stately  and  strong  ; 
some  were  young  and  slender,  with  faces  of  fresh  light. 
I  looked  round  in  awe,  and  trembled  with  hope  and  joy. 

I  knew,  without  any  words  to  tell  me,  what  brother 
hood  this  was.  These  were  my  predecessors,  the  priests 
of  the  sanctuary,  the  seers,  the  chosen  servants  of  the 
Lily  Queen.  I  saw  that  they  had  succeeded  each  to 
each,  keeping  sacredly  the  guardianship  of  the  holy  of 
holies  since  first  it  was  shaped  out  of  the  great  rock, 
against  which  the  temple  rested. 

"  Art  ready  to  learn  ?  "  said  one  to  me — one  whose 
breath  seemed  to  me  to  be  drawn  from  long-forgotten 
ages. 

"  I  am  ready,"  I  said  ;  and  knelt  upon  the  ground  in 
the  centre  of  that  strange,  holy  circle.  My  body  fell, 
yet  my  spirit  seemed  to  soar.  Though  I  knelt,  I  knew 
I  was  held  up  in  soul  by  those  who  surrounded  me. 
Henceforth  they  were  my. brethren. 

"Sit  thou  there,"  he  said,  pointing  to  my  couch,  "and 
I  will  talk  with  thee." 

I  rose,  and  turning  to  go  to  the  couch,  saw  that  I 
was  alone  with  this  one  who  spoke  to  me.  The  others 
had  left  us.  He  came  and  sat  beside  me,  and  began  to 
speak.  He  poured  into  my  heart  the  wisdom  of  the 
dead  ages ;  wisdom  which  lives  forever,  and  is  young 
when  the  race  of  its  early  disciples  is  no  longer  even  a 
memory.  My  heart  grew  green  with  the  freshness  of 
this  ancient  knowledge  and  truth. 

Throughout  that  day  he  sat  beside  me  and  taught. 
At  night  he  touched  my  forehead  with  his  hands  and 
left  me.  As  I  lay  down  to  sleep,  I  recollected  that  I 


110  THE  IDYLL  OF 

I  had  seen  none  but  my  teacher  since  yesterday,  nor  had 

I  tasted  food.  Yet  I  was  not  weary  with  learning, 
nor  was  I  faint.  I  laid  my  flower  beside  me,  and  slept 
quietly. 

|  When  I  awoke  I   started   up,  fancying  some   one 

j  touched  my  flower.     But  I  was  alone,  and  my  flower 

was  safe.     A  table  stood  near  the  heavy  curtain  which 

i  separated  my  room  from  the  next ;  on  this  table  stood 

|  food ;  milk  and  cakes.     All  yesterday  I  had  not  eaten :  I 

I  was  glad  now  of  the  food.     I  put  my  flower  within  my 

I  dress,  and  went  to  the  table.     I  drank  the  milk  and 

ate  the  cakes ;  and  then,  with  new  strength  in  me,  I 

turned  to  go  to  my  couch,  and  there  meditate  earnestly 

on  what  I  had  learned  yesterday,  for  I  knew  that  these 

were  golden  seeds  which  must  bear  fruits  of  glory. 

But  I  stood  still  and  my  heart  sank  within  me;  for 
again  I  was  surrounded  by  the  beautiful  circle.  He 
who  had  taught  me  yesterday,  looked  at  me  and  smiled, 
but  he  did  not  speak.  Another  approached  me,  took 
my  hand  and  led  me  to  the  couch,  and  I  was  alone  with 
[  him. 

Alone,  yet  not  alone,  and  never  to  be  any  longer 
alone,  for  he  took  my  heart  and  soul,  and  showed  them 
to  me  in  their  nakedness,  unsoftened  by  any  fancied 
sanctity.  He  took  my  past,  and  showed  it  to  me  in  its 
simple,  dark,  unbeautiful  poverty ;  that  past  which 
might  have  been  so  rich.  Until  now,  it  seemed  to  me 
I  had  been  living  in  unconsciousness.  Now,  I  was 
guided  through  my  own  life  again,  and  bidden  regard 
it  with  clear  vision.  The  chambers  I  passed  through, 
were  dark  and  dreary ;  some  of  them  were  full  of  hor 
rors.  For  now  I  saw  that  I  had  been  won  by  the  magic 
j  which  I  myself  had  interpreted  to  Kamen  Baka.  Like 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  Ill 

the  others,  I  had  existed  for  desire  and  its  satisfaction. 
And  steeped  in  the  joys  of  pleasure,  of  beauty,  I  had 
been  as  one  intoxicated,  and  knew  not  all  that  I  did. 
Remembering  my  past,  I  saw  the  meaning  of  Seboua's 
words,  which  at  the  time  I  hardly  understood.  I  had 
indeed  been  the  darling  of  the  temple,  for  when  my  • 
body  was  steeped  in  pleasure,  and  silenced  in  the  dim 
sleep  of  satiety,  my  lips  and  voice  had  become  docile 
to  the  will  of  that  dark  mistress.  Through  my  physical 
powers  she  made  known  her  wishes,  and  obtained  the 
service  of  those  slaves  who  had  bartered  their  all  for  the 
sake  of  gratification.  By  her  fierce  and  terrible  insight 
into  the  dark  caverns  of  men's  souls,  she  saw  their 
needs,  and  with  my  speech  she  showed  them  how  to 
obtain  that  which  they  longed  for. 

As  I  sat  there,  dumb  and  amazed  at  the  visions 
which  passed  through  my  awakened  memory,  I  saw 
myself  first,  a  mere  child,  lulled  from  terror  and  alarm 
by  pleasure.  I  saw  myself  within,  the  temple,  in  its 
inner  sanctuary,  a  creature  helpless,  a  tool,  a  mere  in 
strument  played  upon  mercilessly.  I  saw  myself  later, 
a  youth  fresh  and  beautiful,  lying  unconscious  on  the 
deck  of  the  sacred  boat,  rising  in  the  frenzy  of  uncon 
sciousness,  and  uttering  strange  words.  I  saw  myself 
later,  grown  pale  and  faint,  yet  always  the  willing  in 
strument,  although  the  soul  was  beginning  to  stir  and 
weary  the  body  with  its  struggle ;  and  now  I  saw  that 
the  soul  had  awakened,  had  touched  its  mother,  the 
queen  of  light,  and  could  never  again  be  silenced. 

The  night  came,  and  my  teacher  left  me.  None  else 
had  come  to  my  chamber ;  no  food  had  been  brought 
to  me  since  the  early  morning.  I  was  faint  with  the 
terrible  sights  which  I  had  seen  in  this  short  day.  I 


112  THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 

determined  to  go  in  search  of  the  food  I  needed.  I 
lifted  the  heavy  curtain  that  covered  the  archway, 
which  led  into  the  great  room  beyond.  A  door  was 
there — a  massive  door — such  as  might  close  the  portal 
of  a  dungeon.  Then  I  understood  I  was  a  prisoner, 
and  now  that  I  had  recovered  from  my  weakness  and 
excitement,  I  was  to  have  no  food.  Agmahd  had  seen 
that  my  spirit  had  awakened ;  he  had  determined  to 
kill  it  within  me,  and  preserve  the  mere  broken  body 
for  his  purpose. 

I  lay  down  upon  my  couch,  and  fell  asleep  with  the 
drooping  lily-bud  upon  my  lips. 

When  I  awoke,  one  stood  beside  me  whom  I  knew 
to  be  my  new  teacher.  I  had  met  his  smile  when  I 
had  seen  the  beautiful  circle  around  me.  I  sprang  up 
gladly ;  from  him  I  looked  for  encouragement.  He 
came  and  sat  beside  me,  and  took  my  hand  in  his. 

And  then  I  knew  that  his  smile  was  the  light  of  a 
great  peace.  He  had  died  in  this  chamber — died  for 
the  truth.  He  called  me  brother,  and  suddenly  I  be 
came  aware  that  the  roses  of  my  life  had  blown  and 
fallen,  and  passed  away  forever.  I  had  to  live  for  the 
truth  in  the  light  of  the  pure  spirit,  and  no  suffering 
must  make  me  afraid,  and  from  the  moment  that  his 
hand  touched  mine,  I  knew  that  no  suffering  could 
make  me  afraid.  Until  now,  pain  had  always  blinded 
me  with  terror,  but  now  I  knew  that  I  could  meet  and 
grasp  it  with  strong  hands  unterrified.  I  sank  to  sleep 
that  night  in  an  ecstasy;  I  knew  not  whether  I  waked 
or  dreamed ;  but  I  knew  that  this  my  brother,  whose 
physical  life  had  been  torn  from  him  in  the  long  ages 
past,  had  poured  the  strength  of  his  fiery  soul  into 
mine,  and  that  I  could  never  lose  it  again. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


N  the  morrow  when  my  eyes  opened  my  bed 
was  surrounded  by  the  beautiful  circle. 
They  regarded  me  with  grave  looks  ;  I  saw 
no  smile  on  any  face ;  but  the  infinite 
tenderness  which  I  felt  from  them  gave  me  strength, 
I  rose  and  knelt  beside  my  couch,  for  I  saw  that  some 
great  moment  was  approaching. 

The  youngest  and  the  brightest  of  them  all  left  the 
circle  and  approached  me.  He  knelt  beside  me  and 
clasped  my  hands,  holding  within  them  the  faded  lotus- 
blossom  which  lay  upon  my  pillow. 

I  looked  up — the  others  were  gone.  I  regarded  my 
companion.  He  was  silent ;  his  eyes  were  fixed  on  me. 
How  young  he  was  and  beautiful !  Earth  had  left  no 
soil  on  his  spirit.  I  knew  that  its  stain  must  be  on 
mine  until  in  the  course  of  ages  I  had  washed  it  clean 
again.  I  felt  a  fear  of  this  my  companion,  he  was  so 
white  and  spotless. 

As  we  remained  thus  in  silence  a  soft  voice  fell  on 
my  ear. 

"  Look  not  up  yet,"  whispered  he  who  knelt  at  my 
side. 

"  Twin  stars  of  the  evening,  thou  the  last  of  the  long 


114  THE  IDYLL  OF 

line  of  seers  who  have  made  the  wisdom  of  the  temple 
and  crowned  the  greatness  of  Egypt  with  glory  !  The 
night  is  at  hand,  and  the  darkness  must  fall  and  hide 
the  earth  from  the  beauty  of  the  heavens  above  it. 
Yet  the  truth  shall  be  left  with  my  people,  the  ignorant 
children  of  earth.  And  it  is  for  you  to  leave  behind 
you  a  burning  light,  a  record  for  all  time  which  men 
shall  look  at  and  wonder  at  in  asres  hence.  The  record 

O 

of  your  lives,  and  of  the  truth  which  inspired  you,  shall 
go  to  other  races,  in  other  parts  of  the  dim  earth,  to  a 
people  who  have  only  heard  of  the  light,  who  have 
never  seen  it.  Be  strong,  for  your  work  is  great. 
Thou,  my  child  of  the  snowy  soul,  thou  hadst  not 
strength  to  battle  alone  with  the  growing  darkness ; 
but  now,  give  of  thy  faith  and  purity  to  this  one,  whose 
wings  are  smirched  with  stains  of  the  earth,  but  who 
has  gathered  from  that  dark  contact  strength  for  the 
coming  battle.  Fight  thou  to  the  last  for  thy  Queen 
Mother.  Speak  to  my  people,  and  tell  them  of  the 
great  truths  ;  tell  them  that  the  soul  lives  and  is  blessed, 
unless  they  drown  it  in  degradation  ?  tell  them  there  is 
freedom  and  peace  for  all  who  will  free  themselves 
from  desires ;  tell  them  to  look  to  me  and  find  rest  in 
my  love  ;  tell  them  there  is  the  lotus-bloom  in  every 
human  soul,  and  that  it  will  open  wide  to  the  light 
unless  they  poison  its  roots ;  tell  them  to  live  in  inno 
cence  and  seek  after  truth,  and  I  will  come  and  walk 
in  their  midst,  and  show  them  the  way  into  that  place 
of  peace  where  all  is  beauty  and  all  are  content.  Tell 
them  I  love  my  children,  and  would  come  and  dwell  in 
their  homes  and  bring  that  content  which  is  more  than 
any  prosperity,  even  unto  these  their  hearths  of  the 
earth.  Tell  them  this  in  a  voice  like  a  trumpet-call, 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  115 

which  cannot  be  misunderstood.  Save  those  who  will 
hear,  and  make  my  temple  once  more  a  dwelling  for 
the  Spirit  of  Truth.  The  temple  must  fall,  but  it  shall 
not  fall  in  iniquity.  Egypt  must  decay ;  but  it  shall 
not  decay  in  ignorance.  It  shall  hear  a  voice  it  cannot 
forget ;  and  the  words  which  that  voice  utters  shall  be 
the  hidden  heirloom  of  ages,  and  shall  again  be  spoken 
under  another  sky,  and  herald  the  dawn  which  must 
break  through  the  long  blackness.  Thou,  my  youngest, 
thou  who  art  both  strong  and  weak,  prepare !  The 
struggle  is  at  hand  ;  do  not  flinch.  One  duty  is  thine  ; 
to  teach  the  people.  Do  not  fear  that  wisdom  shall 
fail  thy  tongue.  I,  who  am  Wisdom,  will  speak  in  thy 
voice.  I,  who  am  Wisdom,  will  be  at  thy  side.  Look 
up,  my  child,  and  gather  strength." 

I  raised  my  eyes,  and  as  I  did  so  felt  the  tightened 
grasp  of  the  hand  of  my  companion,  who  knelt  at  my 
side.  I  understood  that  he  desired  to  give  me  courage 
to  face  the  blinding  glory  which  was  before  my  eyes. 

She  stood  before  us,  and  I  saw  her  as  the  flower  sees 
the  sun  which  feeds  it.  I  saw  her  without  disguise  or 
veil.  The  fair  woman  who  had  soothed  my  boyish 
tears  was  lost  in  the  god,  the  glory  of  whose  presence 
filled  my  soul  with  a  burning  that  seemed  to  me  like 
death.  Yet  I  lived  ;  I  saw  ;  I  understood. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

HE  beautiful  young  priest  rose  and  stood 
beside  me,  while  I  still  gazed  upon  the 
glory. 

"  Hear  me,  my  brother,"  he  said. 
"  There  are  three  truths  which  are  absolute,  and  which 
cannot  be  lost,  but  yet  may  remain  silent  for  lack  of 
speech. 

"  The  soul  of  man  is  immortal,  and  its  future  is  the 
future  of  a  thing  whose  growth  and  splendor  has  no 
limit. 

"  The  principle  which  gives  life  dwells  in  us,  and 
without  us,  is  undying  and  eternally  beneficent,  is  not 
heard  or  seen,  or  smelt,  but  is  perceived  by  the  man 
who  desires  perception. 

"  Each  man  is  his  own  absolute  lawgiver,  the  dis 
penser  of  glory  or  gloom  to  himself ;  the  decreer  of  his 
life,  his  reward,  his  punishment. 

"  These  truths,  which  are  as  great  as  is  life  itself, 
are  as  simple  as  the  simplest  mind  of  man.  Feed  the 
hungry  with  them.  Farewell.  It  is  sundown.  They 
will  come 'for  you;  be  thou  ready." 

He  was  gone.     But  the  glory  did  not  fade  from  be- 
116 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  117 

fore  my  eyes.  I  saw  the  truth.  I  saw  the  light.  1 
remained,  holding  the  vision  with  my  passionate  regard. 

Some  one  touched  me.  I  was  awakened  and  stirred 
immediately  by  a  sudden  startling  sense  that  the  hour 
of  battle  had  come.  I  rose  and  looked  round.  Agmahd 
stood  beside  me.  He  looked  very  serious ;  his  face 
was  less  cold  than  was  usual ;  there  was  a  fire  in  his 
eyes  such  as  I  had  never  seen  there  before. 

"  Sensa,"  he  said  in  a  low  voice,  very  clear,  that 
seemed  like  a  knife,  "art  thou  prepared?  To-night  is 
the  last  night  of  the  Great  Festival.  I  need  your  ser 
vice.  When  last  you  were  with  us  you  were  mad  ; 
your  brain  was  frenzied  with  the  follies  of  your  own 
conceit.  I  demand  your  obedience  now,  as  you  have 
hitherto  given  it,  and  to-night  you  are  needed,  for  a 
great  miracle  has  to  be  worked.  You  must  be  passive, 
else  you  will  suffer.  The  Ten  have  determined  that, 
unless  you  are  obedient  as  hitherto,  you  must  die.  You 
are  too  well  versed  in  all  we  know,  to  live,  unless  you 
are  one  of  us.  Your  choice  lies  plain  before  you. 
Make  it  quickly." 

"  It  is  made,"  I  answered. 

He  looked  at  me  very  earnestly.  I  read  his  thought, 
and  saw  that  he  had  expected  to  find  me  sad  with 
solitude,  sick  with  the  long  fast,  and  broken  in  spirit. 
Instead,  I  stood  erect,  unexhausted,  filled  with  fear 
lessness;  I  felt  that  the  light  was  in  my  soul,  that  the 
great  army  of  the  glorious  ones  stood  behind  me. 

"  I  have  no  fear  of  death,"  I  answered ;  "  and  I  will 
no  longer  be  the  tool  of  men  who  are  killing  the  royal 
religion  of  Egypt,  the  great  and  only  religion  of  truth, 
for  the  benefit  of  their  own  ambitions  and  desires.  I 
have  seen  and  understood  your  miracles  and  the  teach- 


118  THE  IDYLL  OF 

ings  which  you  give  to  the  people ;  I  will  aid  you  no 
longer.  I  have  said." 

Agmahd  stood  silent,  regarding  me.  His  face  grew 
whiter  and  more  rigid,  as  though  cut  in  marble.  I  re 
membered  his  words  that  night  in  the  inner  sanctuary, 
when  he  said,  "  I  renounce  my  humanity."  I  saw  it 
was  so,  that  the  renunciation  was  complete.  I  could 
look  for  no  mercy  ;  I  had  to  deal  not  with  man,  but 
with  a  shape  animated  by  a  dominant  and  absolutely 
selfish  will. 

After  a  moment's  pause  he  spoke,  very  calmly — 

"  Be  it  so.  The  Ten  shall  hear  your  words  and 
answer  them  ;  you  have  a  right  to  be  present  at  their 
deliberations ;  you  are  yourself  as  high  in  the  temple 
as  I  myself.  It  will  be  a  trial  of  strength  against 
strength,  of  will  against  will.  I  warn  you  that  you 
will  suffer/' 

He  turned  away  and  left  me,  moving  with  that  slow 
arid  stately  step  which  had  so  fascinated  me  when  a 
child. 

I  sat  down  upon  ray  couch  and  waited.  I  was  not 
afraid ;  but  I  could  not  think  or  reflect.  I  was  con 
scious  that  a  moment  was  at  hand  which  would  need 
all  my  strength  ;  and  I  remained  without  motion  and 
without  thought,  reserving  all  the  force  I  possessed. 

A  star  rose  in  front  of  me,  a  gleaming  star,  which 
seemed  to  me  shaped  like  the  full-blown  lotus  flower. 
Excited  and  dazzled,  I  rose  and  sprang  towards  it.  It 
moved  from  me — I  would  not  lose  it,  but  followed 
eagerly.  It  passed  through  the  doorway  of  my  room 
into  the  corridor  ;  I  found  that  the  door  opened  at  my 
touch.  I  did  not  stay  to  wonder  why  it  was  unlocked, 
but  followed  the  star  and  its  light,  which  momently 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  119 

grew  clearer,  and  its  shape  grew  more  defined  ;  I  saw 
the  petals  of  the  royal  white  flower,  and  from  its 
yellow  centre  streamed  the  light  that  led  me. 

Swiftly  and  eagerly  I  went  down  the  wide  dim  cor 
ridor.  The  great  door  of  the  temple  was  open,  and 
the  star  passed  through  it  into  the  outer  air.  I  too 
went  out  of  the  temple  door,  and  found  myself  in  the 
avenue  of  strange  statues.  Suddenly  I  became  aware 
that  there  was  a  presence  at  the  outer  gate  which  called 
me.  I  fled  down  the  long  avenue  with  feet  that  knew 
not  whither  they  led  me ;  yet  I  knew  that  I  must  go. 
The  great  gates  were  locked;  but,  so  close  to  them 
that  I  felt  as  though  I  were  in  the  midst  of  it,  was  a 
great  crowd,  a  mass  of  people.  They  were  awaiting 
the  great  ceremony,  the  final  glory  of  the  festival, 
which  to-night  was  to  take  place  at  the  portals  of  the 
temple  itself.  I  looked  up  and  saw  the  Queen  Mother 
standing  beside  me.  She  had  in  her  hand  a  flaming 
torch,  and  I  knew  that  its  light  had  formed  the  star 
which  guided  me  hither.  She  it  was,  then,  the  light  of 
life,  who  had  led  me.  She  smiled  and  was,  in  an  in 
stant,  gone  ;  I  was  alone  with  my  knowledge ;  and  the 
people,  crowded  together  and  plunged  in  ignorance, 
waited  at  the  gates  to  be  taught  of  the  priests. 

I  remembered  the  words  of  my  predecessor,  my  bro 
ther,  who  had  given  me  the  three  truths  for  the  people. 

I  lifted  up  my  voice  and  spoke ;  my  words  carried  me 
on  as  though  they  were  waves,  and  my  emotion  grew 
into  a  great  sea  upon  which  I  was  lifted  ;  and  as  I  looked 
into  the  eager  eyes  and  rapt  wondering  faces  before  me, 
I  knew  that  the  people  also  were  being  swept  along  on 
that  swift  tide.  My  heart  swelled  with  the  delight  of 


120  THE  IDYLL  OF 

speech,  of  giving  utterance  to  the  great  truths  which 
had  become  my  own. 

At  last  I  began  to  tell  them  how  I  had  caught  fire 
from  the  torch  of  holiness,  and  was  resolved  to  enter 
upon  a  true  life  of  devotion  to  wisdom,  and  to  discard 
all  the  luxury  which  surrounded  the  priestly  life,  and  to 
put  aside  forever  all  desires  but  those  which  belong  to 
the  soul.  I  cried  aloud,  praying  all  those  who  felt  the 
light  kindle  within  them,  to  enter  upon  a  similar  path, 
even  in  the  midst  of  their  life  in  the  city  or  on  the  mount 
ains.  I  told  them  that  it  was  unnecessary  because  men 
bought  and  sold  in  the  streets,  that  they  should  utterly 
forget  and  drown  the  divine  essence  within  them.  I 
bade  them  burn  out  by  the  light  of  the  spirit  the  grosser 
desires  of  the  flesh  which  held  them  back  from  the  true 
doctrine,  and  sent  them  in  throngs  as  devotees  to  the 
shrine  of  the  Queen  of  Desire. 

I  paused  suddenly  with  a  heavy  sense  of  weariness  and 
exhaustion.  I  became  aware  that  some  one  stood  on 
each  side  of  me ;  an  instant  later,  I  saw  that  I  was 
surrounded.  The  ten  high  priests  had  formed  a  circle 
around  me.  Karnen  Baka  stood  facing  me,  and  fixed 
his  eyes  on  mine. 

I  cried  out  aloud,  standing  there  in  the  midst  of  this 
circle — 

"  O,  people  of  Egypt,  remember  my  words  !  Never 
again  may  you  hear  the  messenger  of  the  mother  of  our 
life,  the  mother  of  the  God  of  Truth.  She  has  spoken. 
Go  to  your  homes  and  write  her  words  on  tablets, 
and  grave  them  on  stones,  that  people  yet  unborn  may 
read  them  and  repeat  them  to  your  children,  that  they 
shall  know  of  the  wisdom.  Go,  and  stay  not  to  witness 
the  sacrilege  of  the  temple  which  is  to-night  to  be  com- 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  121 

raitted.  The  priests  of  the  goddess  desecrate  her  tem 
ple  with  madness  and  lust  and  rich  filling  of  all  desires. 
Listen  not  to  their  words,  but  go  to  your  homes  and 
ask  of  your  own  hearts  their  lesson." 

My  strength  was  gone.  I  could  utter  no  word  more. 
With  drooped  head  and  weary  limbs,  I  obeyed  the  men 
acing  circle  which  surrounded  me,  and  turned  my  steps 
towards  the  temple. 

In  silence  we  moved  up  the  avenue,  and  entered  the 
doorway.  Within  it  we  paused.  Kamen  Baka  turned 
and  looked  back  down  the  avenue. 

"  The  people  murmur,"  he  said. 

Again  we  moved  on  down  the  great  corridor. 
Agmahd  came  out  of  a  doorway,  and  stood  before  us. 

"  Is  it  so  ?"  he  said  in  a  strange  voice.  He  knew 
what  had  happened  by  the  group  he  regarded. 

"  What  shall  be  done  ?  "  said  Kamen  Baka.  "  He 
betrays  the  secrets  of  the  temple,  and  excites  the  people 
against  us." 

"  He  will  be  a  great  loss,"  said  Agmahd,  "  but  he  has 
become  too  dangerous.  He  must  die'.  Speak  I  well, 
brethren  ?  " 

A  faint  murmur  passed  round  me  from  lip  to  lip. 
Every  voice  was  with  Agmahd. 

"  The  people  murmur  at  the  gate,"  repeated  Kamen 
Baka. 

"  Go  to  them,"  said  Agmahd  ;  "  tell  them  this  is  a 
night  of  sacrifice,  and  the  goddess  will  herself  speak 
with  her  own  voice." 

Kamen  Baka  left  the  circle,  and  Agmahd  immediately 
took  his  place. 

I  stood  motionless,  silent.  I  dimly  understood  that 
my  fate  was  sealed,  but  1  neither  knew  nor  desired  to 


122 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 


ask  in  what  way  I  was  to  die.  I  knew  myself  to  be 
utterly  helpless  in  the  hands  of  the  high  priests.  There 
was  no  appeal  from  their  authority,  and  the  crowd  of 
inferior  priests  obeyed  them  as  slaves.  I,  one  alone, 
was  helpless  amid  this  crowd,  and  under  this  absolute 
authority.  I  did  not  fear  death,  and  I  thought  it  due 
to  the  Queen  Mother  that  her  servant  should  go  to  her 
with  all  gladness.  It  was  my  last  testimony  on  earth 
to  her  love. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

WAS  taken  into  my  own  chamber,  and  there 
left  alone.     I  lay  down  upon  my  couch  and 
fell  asleep,  for  I  was  very  weary,  and  I  was 
not  afraid  ,  it  seemed  to  me  that  under  my 
head  was  the  tender  arm  of  the  Lady  of  the  Lotus. 

But  my  sleep  was  short.  I  was  plunged  in  a  deep 
unconsciousness,  that  was  too  sweet  for  any  dream  to 
enter,  when  suddenly  I  was  roused  by  a  vivid  sense  of 
being  no  longer  alone.  I  awoke  to  find  myself  in  dark 
ness  and  silence,  but  I  recognized  the  sensation.  I 
knew  I  was  surrounded  by  a  great  crowd.  I  waited 
motionless  with  watchful  eyes  for  the  light,  wondering 
what  presences  it  would  reveal  to  me. 

Then  I  became  aware  of  something  I  had  never  felt 
before.  I  was  not  unconscious,  yet  I  was  helpless  as 
though  without  sense  or  knowledge.  I  was  not  motion 
less  from  indifference  or  peacefulness.  I  desired  to 
rise  and  demand  that  light  should  be  brought,  but  I 
could  neither  move  nor  utter  any  sound.  Some  fierce 
will  was  battling  with  mine,  so  strong  that  I  was  all 
but  utterly  mastered,  yet  I  struggled  and  would  not 


ll>4  THE  IDYLL  OF 

yield.  I  wns  determined  not  to  be  a  blind  slave,  over 
powered  in  the  darkness  by  an  unseen  adversary. 

It  became  terrible,  this  fight  for  supremacy.  It  be 
came  so  fierce  that  at  last  I  knew  it  was  a  fight  for  my 
life.  The  power  that  weighed  me  down  desired  to  kill. 
What  was  it,  who  was  it,  that  endeavored  to  draw  my 
breath  from  out  my  body  ? 

At  last — I  cannot  tell  how  long  this  intense  silent 
warfare  was  waged — at  last  the  light  came  flashing 
round  me  on  every  side,  as  torch  was  lighted  from 
torch.  I  saw  dimly,  for  my  sight  was  faint.  I  saw 
that  I  was  in  the  great  corridor  before  the  door  of  the 
sanctuary,  lying  upon  the  couch  where  I  had  played 
with  the  strange  phantom-child  who  first  taught  me 
pleasure.  I  lay  upon  it  outstretched  as  I  had  lain  on 
my  own  couch  in  sleep.  As  when  it  had  been  used  in 
the  ceremonial  before,  so  now  it  was  covered  with  roses 
—large,  rich,  voluptuous,  crimson  and  blood-red  roses ; 
thousands  lay  upon  and  about  the  couch,  and  their 
strong  perfume  overpowered  my  faint  senses.  I  was 
clothed  strangely  in  a  thin  white  linen  robe,  whereon 
were  embroideries,  such  as  until  now  I  had  never  seen, 
hierogl}rphs  worked  in  thick,  dark,  red  silk.  At  my 
side  was  a  stream  of  red  blood,  which  flowed  from  the 
couch  into  a  beautiful  vessel  that  stood  upon  the 
ground  amid  a  heap  of  roses.  I  looked  at  this  a  while 
in  idle  curiosity,  until  on  a  sudden  the  knowledge  came 
to  me  that  this  was  my  life's  blood  flowing  away. 

I  raised  my  eyes,  and  saw  that  I  was  surrounded  by 
the  Ten.  Their  gaze  was  all  fixed  on  me,  their  coun 
tenances  were  implacable.  I  knew  then  what  that  ter 
rible  will  was  with  which  I  had  done  battle.  It  was 
their  united  resolution.  Was  it  possible  that  I  alone 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  125 

could  struggle  against  this  band  ?  T  knew  not,  yet  I 
was  not  cast  down.  By  one  great  effort  I  raised  my 
self  on  the  couch.  I  was  already  weak  from  want  of 
blood,  but  they  could  no  longer  keep  me  silent.  I  rose 
to  my  feet,  and  stood  upon  the  couch,  and  looked  past 
them  to  the  crowd  of  priests  beyond,  and  further  still  to 
the  throng  of  people,  who  waited  close-packed  at  the 
entrance  of  the  great  corridor,  to  see  the  promised 
miracle. 

I  stood  one  instant,  and  thought  I  had  power  to  speak, 
but  I  fell  back  helpless  in  my  weakness.  Yet  a  deep, 
profound,  vivid  happiness  filled  my  soul,  and  suddenly 
I  heard  a  murmur  which  rose  and  grew  stronger. 

"  It  is  the  young  priest  that  taught  at  the  gate  !  He 
is  good,  he  shall  not  die  !  Let  us  save  him !  " 

The  people  had  seen  my  face  and  knew  me.  A  great 
rush  was  made  in  the  sudden  enthusiasm,  and  the  crowd 
of  priests  was  pressed  towards  the  couch,  so  that  the 
Ten. were  unable  to  remain  around  it.  And  as  the 
wave  of  struggle  came  up  towards  the  holy  of  holies, 
many  of  the  priests  rushed  into  the  vacant  space  be 
tween  the  couch  and  the  door.  And  as  they  passed  by 
in  the  confusion  and  surprise,  I  saw  that  the  vessel 
which  held  my  life  was  overturned  and  the  red  blood 
was  ^spilled  at  the  door  of  the  sanctuaiy.  The  door 
opened;  Agmahd  stood  within  it ;  he  looked  majestic 
in  his  impenetrable  calm.  He  gazed  upon  the  surging 
crowd  before  him.  At  his  cold  gaze  the  priests  grew 
calmer  and  gathered  strength  to  withstand  a  little 
longer  the  onrush  of  the  crowd.  The  Ten  drew  to 
gether  again  and  with  difficulty  reached  my  couch  and 
again  formed  a  barrier  about  it. 

But  they  were  too  late.     Already  some  of  the  people 


126  THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 

had  reached  ray  side.  I  smiled  dimly  into  their  kindly 
rough  faces.  Tears  fell  upon  my  face  and  penetrated 
my  heart ;  and  then  suddenly  one  caught  my  hand  and 
clasped  and  kissed  it,  and  wetted  it  with  hot  tears. 
Surely  that  touch  thrilled  my  blood  as  did  none  other! 
Then  I  heard  a  voice  cry  :  "  It  is  my  son — it  is  my  son 
that  is  dead.  He  is  killed.  Who  will  give  me  back 
my  son  ? 

It  was  my  mother  who  knelt  at  my  side.  I  strained 
my  fading  sight  and  saw  her.  She  was  worn  and 
weary,  yet  her  face  was  good.  And  as  I  looked  I  saw 
behind  her,  overshadowing  her,  the  Lady  of  the  Lotus, 
standing  there  in  the  midst  of  the  people !  And  a 
gentle  smile  was  on  her  mouth. 

My  mother  rose,  and  I  saw  a  strange  dignity  in  her 
face. 

"  They  have  killed  his  body,"  she  said,  "  but  they  have 
not  killed  his  soul.  That  is  strong,  for  I  saw  it  in  his 
eyes  as  this  moment  they  closed  in  death." 


CHAPTER  X. 

:  ND  on  my  dim  ears  fell  the  sound  of  a  great 
sigh  that  came  from  the  heart  of  the  people. 
And  then  I  knew  that  my  body  did  not  die 
in  vain. 

But  my  soul  lived.  It  was  not  only  strong,  it  was 
indestructible.  It  had  worked  out  its  time  of  misery 
in  that  pale  form ;  it  had  escaped  from  the  imprison 
ment  which  so  long  had  held  it  fast.  But  only  to  re 
awaken  in  another,  a  strong,  a  beautiful  and  pure 
temple. 

As  the  great  surging  crowd,  driven  to  fury  by  the 
resistance  of  the  priests,  pressed  on  menacingly,  some 
victims  to  its  rage  fell  around  me.  Close  to  my  life 
less  form  lay  Agmahd,  trampled  to  death  by  the  on- 
raged  people,  and  at  my  very  side  against  the  couch  on 
which  I  lay,  Malen  died,  his  breath  pressed  out  from 
his  beautiful  form.  As  I  hovered  there  in  the  strange 
consciousness  of  soul,  I  perceived  these  tainted  spirits, 
dark  with  the  lust  and  ambition  which  the  Queen  of 
Desire  had  kindled  within  them,  forced  into  that  circle 
of  necessity  from  which  there  is  no  escape.  Agmahd's 
soul  fled  with  a  fierce  rush,  like  the  dark  passage  of  a 
bird  of  the  night,  and  Malen,  that  young  priest,  who 

127 


128  THE  IDYLL  OF 

had  led  me  to  the  city,  followed  him  swiftly.  He,  who 
obedient  to  the  rules  of  his  order  had  preserved  the 
purity  of  the  body,  was  black  within  with  ungratified 
and  ceaseless  desire,  but  his  body  lay  a  broken  flower, 
fair  as  a  lily  when  first  it  opens  its  bloom  on  the  sur 
face  of  the  clear  water. 

I  felt  that  my  Queen  Mother  held  me  fast  in  her 
tender  grasp,  that  I  might  not  escape  from  the  scene  of 
horror. 

"  Return  to  your  work,"  she  said  ;  "it  is  yet  unfin 
ished.  This  is  the  new  robe  that  you  will  wear,  which 
will  be  your  covering  while  you  teach  my  people. 
This  body  is  sinless,  unstained  and  beautiful,  although 
the  soul  that  inhabited  it  is  lost.  But  thou  art  my 
own.  To  come  to  me  is  to  live  through  eternity  in 
truth  and  knowledge.  This  is  thy  new  garment." 

I  found  that  I  was  yet  strong,  not  only  in  the  spirit, 
but  in  physical  life.  New  vigor  came  to  me,  my  weari 
ness  was  forgotten.  I  rose -from  the  place,  where  but 
a  minute  since  I  had  lain  prostrate  and  lifeless.  I  rose, 
and  standing  hidden  under  the  segis  of  my  Queen, 
looked  in  horror  at  the  scene  around  me. 

"  Go,  Malen,  go  in  safety,"  she  said.  "  Thou  art  to 
live  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  thou  wilt  be  to  them 
an  image  and  symbol  of  the  glory.  Thou  wilt  be  again 
a  martyr  to  my  cause,  one  who  will  forever  be  remem 
bered  with  love  by  the  dusky  children  of  Chemi.  Yet, 
though  thou  diest  in  my  service,  thou  shalt  teach  for 
ages  to  come  among  the  ruins  of  this  temple ;  and 
though  thou  diest  for  me  a  hundred  deaths,  yet  shalt 
thou  live  to  teach  my  truths  from  the  adytum  of  the 
new  fane  that  shall  arise  in  the  distance  of  time." 

I  hurried  away,  and  passed  unnoticed  through  the 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS.  129 

surging,  furious  crowd.  The  statues  in  the  avenue 
were  thrown  down ;  the  temple  gates  were  broken  and 
destroyed. 

My  soul  was  sad  and  yearned  for  peace.  I  looked 
with  longing  eyes  to  the  quiet  country  where  my  peas 
ant  mother  dwelled ;  but  she  believed  her  son  was 
dead.  She  would  not  know  me  in  this  new  shape.  I 
turned  towards  the  city,  now  deserted  by  the  maddened 
people. 

A  wild  shout  from  a  thousand  throats  tore  the  air. 
I  paused,  and  looking  back,  saw  that  the  unchecked 
vengeance  of  a  generation  betrayed  by  its  teachers,  had 
indeed  fallen  upon  the  glorious  old  temple.  Already 
it  was  desecrated,  and  its  sinful  inmates  sacrificed. 
Soon  it  would  be  a  ruin. 

I  wandered  through  the  empty  streets  of  the  city, 
and  knew  that  here  where  I  had  drunk  of  pleasure,  I 
must  taste  the  joy  of  the  worker.  Here  my  voice  must 
be  heard  unceasingly.  The  truth,  long  driven  from 
the  degraded  temple,  must  find  its  home  in  the  heart  of 
the  people,  in  the  streets  of  the  city.  Long  time  must 
pass  before  my  sin  should  fall  from  me,  and  leave  me 
stainless,  pure,  prepared  for  the  perfect  life  towards 
which  I  labor. 

Since  then,  I  live,  change  form,  and  live  again ;  yet 
know  myself  through  the  long  ages  as  they  pass. 

Egypt  is  dead,  but  her  spirit  lives,  and  the  knowledge 
that  was  hers  is  still  cherished  in  those  souls  who  have 
remained  true  to  the  grand  and  mysterious  past.  They 
know  that  out  of  the  profound  blindness  and  inarticu 
lateness  of  an  age  of  unbelief  shall  arise  the  first  signs 
of  the  splendor  of  the  future.  That  which  is  to  come 

is  grander,  more  majestically  mysterious  than  the  past. 

9 


130  THE  IDYLL  OF 

For  as  the  whole  life  of  humanity  rises  upward,  by 
slow  and  imperceptible  progress,  its  teachers  drink  their 
life  from  purer  founts,  and  take  their  message  from 
the  soul  of  existence.  The  cry  has  sounded  through  the 
world.  The  truths  are  uttered  in  words.  Waken, 
dark  souls  of  the  earth,  who  live  with  eyes  upon  the 
ground,  raise  those  dim  eyes  and  let  perception  enter. 
Life  has  in  it  more  than  the  imagination  of  man  can 
conceive.  Seize  boldly  upon  its  mystery,  and  demand, 
in  the  obscure  places  of  your  own  soul,  light  with  which 
to  illumine  those  dim  recesses  of  individuality  to  which 
you  have  been  blinded  through  a  thousand  existences. 

Though  a  land  of  dusky  forms,  Egypt  stands  as  a 
white  flower  among  other  races  of  the  earth,  and  the 
hieroglyph  readers  of  the  old  hieratic  writings,  the  pro 
fessors,  and  the  thinkers  of  the  day  will  be  unable  to 
stain  the  petals  of  that  grand  lily  blossom  of  our  planet. 
They  do  not  see  the  stem  of  the  lily,  and  the  sunlight 
shining  down  through  the  petals.  They  can  see  noth 
ing  of  the  real  blossom,  neither  can  they  disfigure  it  by 
modern  gardening,  because  it  is  out  of  their  reach.  It 
grows  above  the  stature  of  man,  and  its  bulb  drinks 
deep  from  the  river  of  life. 

It  flowers  in  a  world  of  growth  to  which  man  can 
only  attain  in  his  absolute  moments  of  inspiration  when 
he  is  indeed  more  than  man.  Therefore,  though  its 
lofty  stem  lifts  itself  from  our  world,  it  is  not  to  be 
beheld  or  adequately  described,  save  by  one  who  is  in 
truth  so  much  above  the  stature  of  man  that  he  can 
look  down  into  the  face  of  the  flower,  wherever  it 
blossoms,  whether  in  the  East  or  the  dark  West.  He 
will  there  read  the  secrets  of  the  controlling  forces  of 
the  physical  plane,  and  will  see,  written  within  it,  the 


THE  WHITE  LOTUS. 


131 


science  of  mystic  strength.  He  will  learn  how  to  ex 
pound  spiritual  truths,  and  to  enter  into  the  life  of  his 
highest  self,  and  he  can  learn  also  how  to  hold  within 
him  the  glory  of  that  higher  self,  and  yet  to  retain  life 
upon  this  planet  so  long  as  it  shall  last,  if  need  be ;  to 
retain  life  in  the  vigor  of  manhood,  till  his  entire  work 
is  completed,  and  he  hay  taught  the  three  truths  to  all 
who  look  for  light. 


University  of  California 

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Return  this  material  to  the  library 

from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


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1986 


OCT  17  1994 


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